Kadeena Cox
Kadeena Cox – Life, Career, and Impact
Discover the inspiring journey of Kadeena Cox — British parasport phenom in both athletics and cycling. From MS diagnosis to multi-sport Paralympic champion, her story is one of resilience, brilliance, and barrier-breaking.
Introduction
Kadeena Cox (born 10 March 1991) is a British parasport athlete who competes in athletics (T38 sprint) and para-cycling (C4 track) events.
She is one of the rare athletes to win Paralympic gold medals in two different sports at the same Games, a feat she achieved at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
She also has a presence in British television, bringing her life story, personality, and public voice to broader audiences.
Early Life & Background
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Kadeena Cox was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, to Jamaican parents who had emigrated to Britain.
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She attended Bracken Edge Primary School in Chapeltown and later Wetherby High School.
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She went on to study physiotherapy at Manchester Metropolitan University.
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In her youth, Cox participated in multiple sports. She began competitive sprinting around age 15 (after being encouraged to try athletics by a hockey coach).
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Before her diagnosis, she also had ambitions in skeleton (Winter sport) and other athletic pursuits.
Medical Challenges & Turning Point
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In May 2014, Cox experienced what appeared to be a stroke.
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After initial recovery and further symptoms, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).
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Despite the diagnosis, she resolved to continue competing, now through para-sport.
Sports Career
Athletics (Para-Track)
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Cox competes in the T38 classification (for athletes with coordination impairments) in sprint events, particularly the 100 m and 400 m.
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At the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships (Doha), she won the T37 100 m gold, recording a time in heats that broke the world record prior to the final.
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However, classification changes intervened: she was reclassified to T38 before the 2016 Paralympics, a move that complicated her selection but ultimately she was included.
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At Rio 2016, Cox won gold in the T38 400 m, bronze in the T38 100 m, and a silver in the 4×100 relay (T35-38).
Para-Cycling
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Parallel to her athletics career, Cox competed in C4 cycling, particularly the 500 m time trial on the track.
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She competed at the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships (2016, Montichiari) and despite being reclassified to C4 shortly before the event, she won gold and set a world record in the 500 m time trial.
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At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Cox won gold in the Women's 500 m cycling time trial (C4-5), setting a new C4 world record time of 34.598 seconds (factoring applied).
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She also defended her cycling title at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, winning gold in the 500 m time trial (C4) and in the mixed team sprint (C1-5).
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Her British Cycling profile lists multiple world championship medals and highlights her as a key figure in GB para-cycling.
Awards, Honors & Public Recognition
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Cox was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to athletics.
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Later, in 2022, she was promoted to Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to both athletics and cycling.
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She won the Sporting Equals Sportswoman of the Year award in March 2017.
Media, Public Life & Advocacy
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Beyond sports, Cox has appeared on television. In 2021, she was a contestant on I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.
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In the same year, she won the sixteenth series of BBC’s Celebrity MasterChef.
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She has used her platform to speak openly about living with multiple sclerosis, the challenge of classification in para-sport, and issues of diversity and representation in British sport.
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Cox is also involved in youth and diversity initiatives; for example, she is a founder of KC Academy, aimed at providing more opportunity for ethnically diverse athletes in cycling.
Legacy & Impact
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Kadeena Cox is a trailblazer in the sense that her performance at the Rio 2016 Paralympics made her the first British Paralympian in 32 years to win medals in two different sports in the same Games.
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Her dual-sport success challenges conventional boundaries within para sport, showing it is possible to excel across disciplines.
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As a Black British female athlete who competes in multiple sports and speaks candidly about health, identity, and resilience, she is a role model for many aspiring athletes, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds.
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Her advocacy and visibility help increase awareness around neurological conditions (especially MS) and the role of sport in empowerment and rehabilitation.