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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Rosie Mullender

Going for gold – and the grassroots: how Loughborough University is levelling the playing field in para sport

Loughborough Loughborough University ParalympicsGB Richard Whitehead Gold Paralympic Disability Paralympics
GB Wheelchair Rugby celebrate their Gold medal win at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020
Loughborough University’s partnership with ParalympicsGB has helped ParalympicsGB to secure a top-two world ranking at three consecutive Summer Paralympic Games. Photograph: imagecomms/ParalympicsGB

At the 2024 Chicago Marathon, British athlete Richard Whitehead broke the world record for athletes with a double amputation, adding to the Paralympic golds he won in 2012 and 2016 for the 200m T42 sprint.

In 2025, Whitehead completed 20 marathons around the world to reach his goal of running 100 marathons – a feat he was supported in by Loughborough University’s renowned expertise in para sport.

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