Josie Cichockyj

Josie Cichockyj (9 December 1964 – 2 December 2014) was a British wheelchair athlete. Born in Huddersfield, she competed in the London Marathon women's wheelchair race for a number of years, finishing as runner-up to Kay McShane and Karen Davidson, before winning the 1989 race. Josie won further Marathons including the Leeds, Gloucester, Ottawa and Brussels Marathons. Plus several half Marathons including Great North Run and Reading.

Career
Cichockyj took part in the Summer Paralympics, competing in wheelchair racing at the 1984 Games and in wheelchair basketball at the 1988 Games. Josie held every British Track Record from 100m through to 5,000m breaking 28 British Records. The highlight of her track career was breaking the 5,000m World Track record in addition to silver medals at European Track Championships in Belgium and Austria.

Cichockyj was Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Captain, 1989-1992 and also acted as Vice captain for several years. She competed in the 1988 Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea and the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta, USA, gaining 6th Position (highest placed British team). She won bronze medals in the 1995 European Championships in Delden, Holland, and the 1997 championships in Madrid, Spain, 1997. Josie competed in World Championships including Sydney, Australia in 1998.

During the time Josie Cichockyj was competing at basketball she also competed in table tennis and became a National Champion and became a ranked tennis player playing on the ATP tour ITF Tennis. She was also a ranked tennis player on the ATP World Wheelchair Tennis Tour

Cichockyj died on 2 December 2014 due to cancer.

Tennis

 * LTA National Doubles Winner
 * LTA National Singles Runner Up
 * NW of England Tournament, Division Winner
 * New York Indoor Tennis Championships, Singles Division Winner
 * Dallas Tennis Championships, Singles Division Winner
 * Israel Open Tennis Championships, Singles Division Winner

Table Tennis

 * 1984 Paralympic selection
 * DSE National Singles Winner
 * DSE Doubles Single Winner
 * BTTAD Singles Winner

Awards

 * Alumni Fellowship Award Bolton University for Services to Sport
 * North West Achievement Award in recognition of work with Disabled People
 * Nominated Cheshire Women of the Year 1996
 * Nominated North of England YMCA Volunteer Award 1996
 * Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association Personality of the Year 1989
 * Nominated a finalist at the Winning Women Awards Ceremony 2001
 * DSE National Achievement Award for Services to Table Tennis