A LEADING wheelchair racer has been given a special send-off as she prepares to head to Rio for the Paralympic Games.

Jade Jones has taken full advantage of the training facilities at Teesside University where she is studying a law degree.

Selected to represent Team GB in Brazil, the talented athlete is taking part in her second Paralympic games after making her debut in London four years ago.

The student is a member of the University’s elite athlete scheme which provides access to state-of-the-art equipment and expertise to athletes at international level or with exceptional international potential.

The 20-year-old has also used the University’s specialist environment chamber, which recreates exact climate conditions and allows her to race in the same sweltering heat she can expect to face in Rio.

She said: “I’m really excited about going. I feel like I’ve progressed so much since London 2012, I’m a lot stronger and a lot fitter.

“Right now my training’s tapered off so I’m just concentrating on the small things that people don’t really think about when you see the race on TV, like what sort of wheels I need to take and fine-tuning my nutrition.

“The University and the elite athlete scheme have been a huge support to me. Having a network there, and an understanding of what I’m doing is invaluable. There’s never any questions if I need to go away on a training camp, they support me with the work I need.

“It’s incredible, you wouldn’t get that support anywhere else.”

Jade was first encouraged to take up wheelchair racing by 11 times Paralympic gold medallist and Teesside University honorary graduate Tanni Grey-Thompson. She is trained by Baroness Grey-Thompson’s husband, Ian Thompson.

This will be Middlesbrough-born Jade’s second Paralympics. In 2012, she competed in London in the 400m, 800m and 1,500m events.

She has also competed in the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships and was a finalist in the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award.

To mark her achievements, Professor Paul Crawshaw, dean of the school of social sciences, business and law, presented her with an engraved, crystal tea-light holder in a farewell event at the University.

He said: “We are absolutely delighted for Jade and I know she will be a fantastic ambassador for both Teesside University and Great Britain. We are all really looking forward to cheering her on in Rio.”