A freak illness left Lizzi Jordan blind. But para-cycling restored her sense of vision—and she has the medals to prove it. Jane McGowan finds the Guildford girl dreaming of Paris.
In September 2017, Lizzi Jordan was just like any other student as she headed for a fun night out. But that evening, aged just 19 and studying psychology at Royal Holloway in Egham, she was suddenly struck down after a meal at a fast food restaurant.
Doctors diagnosed a rare strain of E. coli, which left the Guildford teen fighting for her life as the infection began to shut down her major organs.
For two months, she lay in a coma while her family were repeatedly warned that she may not pull through. In the end, against the odds, she made it. But while most of the effects had abated, there was a vicious sting in the tail: the devastating illness had taken her sight.
Alex Whitehead
“To be honest, I was so poorly, I cannot remember what I thought or felt when I woke up,” says Lizzi, now 26.
“I knew that I couldn’t see, but I was so sedated it didn’t make much impact at first. I was just so fatigued – everything hurt. I knew I had a long recuperation ahead of me, so in a way, the sight loss was just one more thing. “It wasn’t until I got back home and tried to return to normal life that it really hit me. Even things like getting myself a drink or going to the toilet – just simple tasks – were so difficult. I hadn’t grasped how hard life was going to be.”
For months, Lizzi was too unwell to think about continuing her studies or forging ahead with her dreams.
Then, as physical recovery began to kick in, she was forced to come to terms with a mountain of adaptive technology. The many and varied challenges of life beyond the sofa loomed large.
Will Palmer
Yet there were constants along with all the change. And for Lizzi, who had spent most of her life enjoying a range of physical activities, love for sport provided the focus and purpose she required. Just 18 months after the savage attack left her learning to walk once more, she took part in the 2019 London Marathon, raising £19,000 for charity in the process.
It was a triumph with an unexpected bonus: British Cycling got in touch, suggesting that Lizzi learn more about the sport at one of its Talent ID days.
“They were just looking for people with potential,” she recalls. “What was nice was that you didn’t have to be particularly into cycling. They were very open, welcoming and encouraging.”
In fact, despite her penchant for physical activity, cycling had never been on her radar. The challenge, however, proved impossible to resist.
“I was always very sporty and competitive – very into horse riding, always outside. I would throw myself into anything. And I thought: ‘Just give it a go.’ So I did, and I really enjoyed it.”
Alex Whitehead
Sensing a star in the making, British Cycling soon invited her to join its paracycling foundation team. This set her on a formal training path, which included a six-day home exercise plan and regular visits to training camps in Manchester, where she was encouraged to build her performance skills and prepare for competition.
“The shoe just fitted,” she reflects. “Cycling gave me something to focus on.”
The results were hugely impressive. A silver medal at the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Para-Cycling Track World Championships, in 2022, was followed in 2023 by gold in the mixed tandem sprint at the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow.
Then, earlier this year, came her greatest triumph so far. As the ParaCycling Track World Championships came round again, held this time in Rio, Lizzi and her new pilot, Danni Khan, scooped an astonishing three world titles in the kilo, pursuit and sprint.
Will Palmer
In para-cycling, the pilot’s main job is to steer, while the stoker (at the rear) supplies the power and speed. Not surprisingly, good pairing is crucial.
“You have to build a relationship with each other and get in sync on the bike. The best combination involves two people of the same height. You want to be as aerodynamic as possible. “Obviously you need a good relationship off the bike too. Yes, it’s a sporting partnership, but if you get on well the results will be better – you want to support and work hard for each other.”
When not up north training in Manchester, Lizzi is frequently to be found at Charlotteville Cycling Club on Guildford’s London Road.
“It’s a fantastic cycling club, and they have done a lot for me,” she says. “At the weekends, I go out on a tandem with a lovely man from Charlotteville who acts as my pilot. That way, I get to go on the roads on training rides and give the static bike a rest. We’re often out for three to four hours. “I am quite passionate about encouraging clubs to include para riders, actually. Charlotteville has been so encouraging, and lots of the members offer to come out with me. They have been so welcoming. Making cycling more inclusive is vital.”
Alex Whitehead
Her regime, as she readily admits, is “full-on”. When not competing or training in the gym, she tries to relax and eat well to maximise her fitness. “There is a hell of a lot of work behind the scenes. A lot of dedication. People see the lovely medals, but they don’t see the hours, days and weeks of determination that goes into winning them. “Much of it is down to mental attitude. When you’re visually impaired, a lot of your training has to be done on a static bike, so you have to sit there for three hours. That’s a challenge, but it lets me focus not on what has happened but on what I have to do.”
In 2024, of course, the big focus is the Paris Paralympics in August.
“I have a huge ambition to be called up, though I won’t know for sure until nearer the time,” says Lizzi. “But the Paralympics, or the Olympics, is every athlete’s goal.”
Even mentioning the P-word, however, makes her feel the weight of expectation. Psychologically, it is no help at all. “The last thing I want is headlines saying that I’m going to the Paralympics – as of this moment, I am not. It’s very competitive; selection is hard. “And Paralympians have a lot more hurdles to overcome than their able-bodied peers – health issues, I mean. We’re ‘para’ for a reason: we are normally compromised in some form. Paris has been the goal for several years, and it’s what keeps me going as a cyclist, but I don’t like people just presuming. I don’t like the pressure.”
Alex Whitehead
Nevertheless, Lizzi’s sights are very much trained on the future. As a consequence, perhaps, she has more or less come to terms with the past. “You never know in which direction life is going to take you,” she reflects.
“I never dreamed that I would be in this position, but in some ways, I am actually enjoying the different kind of life I have now.” And for anyone facing a similar situation, she has some sound advice. Positivity, she insists, is the key. “Be brave about it – give any opportunities that come your way a go. When I turned up to the Talent ID day, I was totally out of my depth. It wasn’t that long since I’d lost my sight, and I had no idea about cycling.
“But taking that initial risk has opened up another world to me. Removing yourself from your comfort zone is one of the very best things you can do. You just need to take that next step.”
