ParalympicsGB’s Athlete Community Reunites Team Members from Across the Decades
ParalympicsGB held its first ever Athlete Community reunion event in Stirling, Scotland on Saturday (31st May), bringing together British Paralympians from across the generations to celebrate and recognise their place in the team’s rich history.
The event was the first in a series of reunion events which will take place across the UK as part of ParalympicsGB’s newly established Athlete Community and provided an opportunity for athletes and loved ones of athletes who have passed away to reunite, make new connections and celebrate their achievements.
Athletes also received official ParalympicsGB recognition tokens, honouring their contribution to the history of the team. The first tokens were presented to athletes during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with the ambition of awarding tokens to all those who have represented the British Paralympic team at a Paralympic Games since the inaugural competition in 1960.
ParalympicsGB Chief Executive David Clarke, who competed at the Atlanta 1996, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games, awarded athletes with their tokens and said:
“ParalympicsGB’s Athlete Community was established to provide a space for British Paralympians to reconnect with their peers, celebrate achievements and also to sign up for training and other opportunities. We also wanted to acknowledge every athlete’s contribution to the team in a tangible, lasting way and hopefully ParalympicsGB’s recognition tokens help do just that.
“I am delighted that so many athletes past and present were able to attend our first ever reunion event and to witness the joy that shared experiences can bring. Being a British Paralympian is not just about excelling on the field of play, it is about overcoming barriers, creating legacies and inspiring a better world for disabled people which is something we can best strive for together.”
The event also included a panel discussion chaired by Scottish Disability Sport Chief Executive, Gavin Macleod alongside Paralympians from across the decades – Martin Mansell, who competed in Para swimming at the 1984 and 1988 Games, winning eight medals; swimmer Paul Noble who competed in five consecutive Games from 1984 to 2000 winning 15 Paralympic medals including four golds; Caroline Baird, a Para athletics gold medallist at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000; and Kelly Gallagher who became the first Paralympian to win a gold medal on snow with victory in the women’s super-G at Sochi 2014.
Former Para swimmer Iain Gowans, who competed at Atlanta 1996, attended the event and said: “It’s great – it’s a unique opportunity to come and meet people that you might not have seen since your competition days. I competed back in 1996 so there were a couple of people I hadn’t seen since then – last century! So it was really good to reconnect.
“Paralympic sport is a fantastic vehicle for promoting positive social change and I think athletes are a key part of that, so the more we can get together and connect with each other, the better for the Paralympic movement and the disabled community in general.”
Angela Robertson (née McDowell), who competed at Seoul 1988 said: “I think it’s special to have the recognition tokens, but I think it’s more important to be recognised and be here in this environment. It’s nice to have something to show and pass on to family but just being around different people that had the experience you also had has been the highlight of my day.”
For more information about the Athlete Community go to: https://paralympics.org.uk/articles/athlete-community
Or contact: athletecommunity@paralympics.org.uk