KIERA Byland is looking to make her mark in and out of the saddle.

The Bolton cyclist takes part in the Special Olympics National Summer Games which begin today in Sheffield.

She will be up against an all-male field of rivals as she goes in search of a medal representing the North West.

The 19-year-old, who has already competed at the Special Olympics World Games in 2015 – where she was a triple gold medallist competing against females – and the Special Olympics National Cycle Championships in 2016 where she won a silver medal despite competing against all males.

Kiera has been training in Holland ahead of the Summer Games where 2,600 athletes from around the country will be competing.

She has been selected as a special olympics athlete leader and also coaches and mentors other children in cycling and swimming.

She said: "Special olympics have given me the chance to see a side of myself I didn’t know existed.

"It has made me challenge myself more than I thought I could do.

"It has given me a chance to not only compete with a variety of people, but to excel and show what I’m truly made when presenting and promoting SOGB [Special Olympics Great Britain].

“My aim is to stay in the SOGB cycle squad and compete at future National, European and World Championships and more if I can.

"I want to continue to train hard and improve on my times and be a truly inspirational athlete leader for SOGB, and my long term goals are to become a global messenger and be employed as a coach and a presenter.”