Murals to celebrate city's sporting stars

A world-record breaking Paralympian and a gold medal winning swimmer are among the sporting heroes to be commemorated with murals across Leeds.

Athlete Kadeena Cox and swimmer Doris Storey were selected for the honour by volunteers working with Leeds Museums and Galleries project On the Pitch, Off the Pitch.

Artworks will also be created to celebrate Leeds Caribbean Cricket Club, the city's "rich dance heritage" and its skateboarding stars.

Project curator Catherine Robins said they were looking for businesses who would host the artworks, which are yet to be designed.

She said: "Seeing their legacy honoured by these new artworks will be a very proud moment for us and for the city.

"We'd love to hear from any buildings, businesses or venues who think they'd be a fitting place to host a mural and who might be able to help us create a lasting tribute to these incredible Leeds stories."

Kadeena Cox, who was born in Chapeltown, has won seven Paralympic bronze, silver and gold medals across cycling and sprinting.

Doris Storey was a swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1936 Summer Olympics and won two gold medals for England at the 1938 British Empire Games.

Leeds Caribbean Cricket Club became the first club of its kind in the UK when it was established in 1948.

It was founded by Alford Gardner who died last month at the aged of 98.

The project received a £210,665 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund through Dynamic Collections - a lottery project to encourage organisations to open up their collections.

Leeds is home to a number of sporting murals, including a tribute to former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa in Hyde Park and a mural honouring Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow at Leeds Beckett University.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council's executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said it was hoped the murals would "inspire future generations" of sports stars.

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