We are delighted that Sophie has joined our BRIT Ambassador family and is championing the BRIT Challenge to support and improve young adult and student mental health and fitness throughout the UK. Sophie has represented Great Britain in Track Cycling since 2015. In 2020, Sophie rode in the Women’s Sprit Event at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin and in 2021, won bronze in the Women’s Team Sprint at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Roubaix, France.
“As an elite athlete with British Cycling, a former student at the University of Manchester, and as a student at Loughborough University, I know that there has been a significant increase in the number of students facing mental health challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the existing difficulties faced by so many young people; particularly those living with disabilities or who are vulnerable. We must do more now to proactively support young adult mental health and fitness to avoid students facing long-term mental health difficulties and this is why the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) Vision resonates with me and I am proud to champion the annual BRIT Challenge.
I am delighted that BRIT are delivering the annual BRIT Challenge as a feelgood February fundraiser for every university, college, specialist college and Students’ Union to enter teams and encourage student and staff participation. It’s great that the BRIT Challenge has been designed to be an inclusive event and enables students and staff of all abilities to participate and add their miles to their team’s 2,022 mile target by hand-cycling, cycling, wheelchair pushing, swimming, walking, jogging, running, rowing or paddling (canoeing, kayaking or paddle-boarding). I hope students throughout the UK will add distance to their team targets by cycling and hand-cycling.
I am thrilled to be part of the BRIT Ambassador family to promote the BRIT Challenge, destigmatise mental health and champion equality, diversity and inclusion. I look forward to encouraging my fellow elite British Cycling athletes to join the BRIT Ambassador family and support a university or college of their choice in order to encourage and inspire students and staff to take on the BRIT Challenge throughout the UK.
I hope to support and encourage students and staff at the University of Manchester and Loughborough University as they take on their BRIT Challenge and will gladly add miles to their team targets in the hope of encouraging my fellow students to take part”. Sophie Capewell Great Britain Track Cyclist and World Championship medallist
Sophie was racing at the age of six after watching her sister compete and with the support of her parents; her father was coaching at Sophie’s local cycling club.
Even before her arrival on the junior scene, Sophie had claimed three sprint and two 500m time trial National titles at the youth level in Great Britain. She also won gold in both the sprint and time trial at the School Games at the end of 2014. Sophie made the most of the opportunities presented to her in 2015; two days of racing at the junior GP von Deutschland im Sprint in Germany saw Sophie finish second in the Keirin and third in the Sprint against several of the World’s best track cyclists. As a member of British Cycling's Olympic Junior Academy Programme, Sophie made her Great Britain debut in 2015 at the U23 and European Junior Track Championships in Athens. Sophie reached the finals in both the Sprint and Keirin, finishing a close fourth in the Sprint and fifth in the Keirin. She also achieved fifth place again in both the 500m Time Trial and Team Sprint. Two weeks later, at the British National Championships, Sophie set personal bests in the 200m Flying Lap and 500m Time Trial, then won the Keirin on route to three National titles.
In 2016, Sophie won two bronze medals at the U23 and European Junior Track Championships in Montichiari, in both the 500m Time Trial and Team Sprint, alongside Lauren Bate.
That same year, Sophie progressed to the Great Britain Cycling Team Senior Academy. A few months later, Sophie secured her first Senior National titles in the Keirin and Team Sprint which led to her being named in the Great Britain team for the 2017 European Championships.
In 2019, Sophie added another National title in the Sprint.
In 2020, Sophie rode in the Women’s Sprit Event at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin and in 2021, won bronze in the Women’s Team Sprint at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Roubaix, France.
After completing her A Levels at Connel Sixth Form College, Sophie initially studied at the University of Manchester before enrolling on a stretch degree at Loughborough University, where she is able to combine competing with British Cycling and studying on campus.
Sophie is currently training six days a week in preparation for the Nations Cup in April, Commonwealth Games in July, European Championships in August and the World Championships in October.
To find out more about British Cycling, please visit their website.