Unbreakable sporting spirit: Maddie Davies is named as NCFE Aspiration Awards finalist
Maddie Davies, a Coleg Sir Gâr sports student has been named as a finalist in the category of Against All Odds in the NCFE 2025 Aspiration Awards.
The 2024 British Schools Trampoline Champion, who is currently ranked number one in Britain and Wales, has impressed her tutors with her determination to succeed through some very personal challenges.
Maddie has hypermobility in her knees and ankles, causing her knees and hips to turn inwards and her ankles to collapse. She also has a pars fracture in her lower spine, with a slight curve which significantly impacts her physical abilities, making every landing an immense strain on her body, resulting in longer recovery times, frequent injuries, and ongoing pain.
She recently had an accident, landing on her neck and being blue lighted to hospital in a stretcher vacuum pack and head blocks to protect her neck and spine. This accident caused a fracture in her back, and she was advised to have surgery followed by a six-week recovery.
But that wasn’t in Maddie’s plan and didn’t coincide with her ambition of retaining her British Schools Trampoline title for the 10th consecutive year and gaining a place, representing team Wales, at 2025 World Age Group Championships.
Instead of an operation, that would have undoubtedly been the end of her sporting career, she opted to undertake intense physio for her fractured back.
Her conditions have meant adapting to learning in ways that work best for her, requiring immense focus and resilience.
Her commitment to her sport and education saw her return to college after just 14 days and started light-bouncing after just three weeks and then after six weeks started building back to elite level and securing her 10th British Schools title.
A few years ago, Maddie underwent a similar block of intense physio in an attempt to stop her feet turning inwards, but unfortunately, it didn’t work so she may require surgery in the coming years, but not till after her sporting career.
Maddie is studying a NCFE level three in sport and exercise science and is supported by the college’s Elite Performer Programme which is run by Rob Kirk to support those studying any course at the college, to continue their sporting excellence while fulfilling their academic ability.
Maddie has a remarkable ability to block out the pain caused by these physical challenges, allowing her to achieve a number one ranking.
Alongside this, she has developed effective coping strategies to manage her autism and achieve a distinction profile last year on her level three diploma. She is on course to excel this year, graduating with a distinction from her level three extended diploma.
Her conditions have meant adapting to learning in ways that work best for her, requiring immense focus and resilience.
She has a conditional acceptance onto a paramedic science degree, to pursue a career as a critical care paramedic, alongside confirming her place in the Welsh team, representing Wales at international qualification events around the globe.
Kim Nicholas, head of section at Coleg Sir Gâr said: “This extraordinary resolve reflects Maddie’s unyielding dedication to achieving her goals.
“Her achievement, both on and off the trampoline, serve as an inspiration to anyone facing adversity.
“Her journey reminds us that with the right mindset, no obstacle is too great to overcome.”
Rob Kirk, Maddie’s tutor and lecturer in sports science, who has also been named a finalist in the NCFE Educator of the Year category, added: “Maddie is a resilient and focused individual, displaying the traits of a true champion.
“I know Maddie will make a real success of her career as a critical care paramedic and will achieve her ambition to represent Wales at the World Age Group Championships.”