Dr Rachel Bevins, Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Therapy at Birmingham Newman University, has recently returned from the Para‑Cycling World Cup, held in March, in Chiang Mai, Thailand – the first time the event has taken place in Asia.

The competition was hosted by the Thai Para‑Cycling Association and was praised for its excellent organisation, welcoming atmosphere and challenging racecourse.

Rachel attended as an International Classifier, a role she has held since 2020 following several years of national‐level involvement. Classification is essential in Paralympic sport, ensuring that athletes are eligible to compete, and are placed into fair and appropriate competition classes based on the impact of their impairment on their ability to perform in their sport.

Her participation in global events such as World Cups, European Championships and the Paralympic Games directly enriches the learning experience for Birmingham Newman students. By bringing current, real‑world insight from elite sport into her teaching, she helps prepare students for future careers in sport, therapy and performance support.

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