Motivational SpeakersRichard Whitehead MBE is a congenital double amputee Paralympian.
He’s a World Record holder in full and half marathons, but he’s also one of the world’s best sprinters – and the current Paralympic, World and European Champion in the T42 200m
He is also the first ever leg amputee to complete the marathon in under 3 hours
As a double leg amputee, life is full of challenges, but that’s never got in Richard’s way. He always dreamt of being able to run a marathon and in January 2004, he set himself the mother of all challenges.
Since that first marathon in 2004 Richard Whitehead has run more than a dozen marathons, not to mention competing at the 2006 Winter Paralympic Games in sledge hockey.
In 2009, he became the first leg amputee (single or double) to break the three hour mark for a marathon, a world record he has now lowered to 2 hours, 42.54 minutes.
By becoming World Champion in the 200m, setting a championship record, in January 2011 at the IPC Athletic World Championships, Richard has cemented his stature as one of the most versatile and outstanding Paralympic athletes in the world, he later went on to break both the 200m and 400m world records in 2011.
At the London 2012 Paralympic Games Richard won Gold in the T42 200m.
Following Gold medals at the 2013 IPC World Championships and Anniversary Games (T42 200m), Richard completed the challenge of a lifetime – running 40 marathons in 40 days, from John O’Groats to Land’s End. He ran a total of 977 miles for his two chosen charities, Scope and Sarcoma UK.
Having successfully defended his T42 200m World and European titles in 2015 and 2016 respectively, the 40 year old went on to win his second Paralympic Gold medal in the event at the Rio Games, defending his title in trademark style with stunning finishing speed.
Four days later Richard added Paralympic silver to his Rio medal haul, crossing the line joint second in a dramatic T42 100m final.
Richard is living proof, that with enough desire and determination, any obstacle can be overcome.
