Kiera Byland
Athlete Leader, Volunteer and Coach, Special Olympics and Root 2 Change
Kiera has learnt that we can all learn from each other, if given the chance. Kiera has a learning disability, struggled with her mental health, bullied and struggled to keep friends. Kiera has a number of ‘labels’ but sport helped to change her life around.
Joining Special Olympics GB (SOGB) in 2014 has been life changing and a life saver for her. From becoming a six times Special Olympics World Games Gold Medallist and five times INAS World Champion in Cycling, becoming an Athlete Leader, an SOGB Board Member, Athlete Leader Chairperson for Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, Vice Chair of Special Olympics Great Britain Athlete Leadership Team, to becoming a qualified level 2 cycle and swim coach and now in the early stages of starting her own enterprise called ‘Root 2 Change’, she really does love her life.
What Kiera has learnt is she couldn’t really get to like or know herself until she accepted herself for who she is, and that’s being a visual learner. Kiera reads best in purple and she is a fantastic advocate and a positive role model for other people with learning disabilities.
Kiera shows that putting herself out there to be judged is a tough thing to do, but it builds resilience and she would like to think this enables others in society to become more tolerant of difference.
Useful links and information
“Remind ourselves of who we are, what we have done and what we CAN do, as the possibilities are endless and that you will never regret being kind.”