By Ben Thomas
KIERAN Jones is an athlete with a plan – to take over the world!
The 19-year-old from Anglesey has his sights fixed on competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics after being selected last week for the Welsh Athletics National Development Programme, which focuses on the top performing athletes in Wales and has included para-athletes for the first time.
Jones, who suffers from a hereditary condition called spasticity paraplegia, is currently number one in the world at under-20 level for the F34 seated shot put, but after receiving the good news of his selection last Monday, he’s already planning significant progress.
“I’ve had it set in my head since I was little that I’m going to go all the way,” he said.
“It’s like every typical teenager wants to be a professional footballer or rugby player, all stereotypical stuff.
“Obviously, I couldn’t have that because my condition got worse when I was younger.
“I’m officially a number one leader in my class.
“So, in the F34 seated shot, I’m top dog in the u20s, but I don’t see it like that as I’m quite nasty on myself. I always want more.
“So that’s just a baby stepping stone to get to the bigger prize, which would be in the future to medal in the Paralympics Games.
“Paris will be my debut Paralympics so just getting there and competing will be a massive achievement.
“I’m only four metres away from breaking the world record. It’s exciting but scary.
“That’s the plan, to take over the world.”
Jones, a two-time Welsh champion and 2019 British Champion may appear destined for Olympic shot put glory.
But the power event wasn’t always his sole focus – and it still isn’t.
When Jones was 13 years old he was selected to be a captain for Welsh wheelchair basketball and led his team to victory at the British championships.
After falling out of his chair and injuring his back he lost confidence and drifted away from the sport.
But now he’s hoping to represent Wales at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham when the sport is featuring in the showpiece for the first time in a three versus three format.
For now though, shot put is at the forefront of his mind.
“The development programme is to get all the up-and-coming talent in Wales to feature in GB futures programmes and the GB team for the Europeans and the worlds and obviously the world stage events such as Paris, Los Angeles and Melbourne for the Paralympics.
“The programme gives you an extra stepping stone closer to that because I’m with Disability Sport Wales so I’m on their talent pathway as well.
“To be on two talent pathways is just so much knowledge and it’s going to give me such an advantage in terms of where I want to be.”