Dec 17, 2019
Andrea Macdonald, founder ideaXme Ltd. interviews Richard Whitehead, MBE, world record breaker and multi gold medallist in the T42 100m and 200m. A multi discipline athlete, Richard is also a world record breaker in the half and full marathon within the category for athletes with a double amputation (marathon record was beaten by Marko Cheseto at the 2019 Boston Marathon). Moreover, recently he is gold and silver medallist in T61 200m events.
Please find the full transcript with photo's and links to this interview here shortly https://radioideaxme.com/interviews/
Here, Richard talks of his life growing up with a disability, career as a world class athlete who runs with Össur prosthetic legs and broader objectives to inspire people with his story and promote diversity and equality across society.
He also talks of his official removal from the T42 100m event in 2017 after the last Paralympics which took place in Rio, effectively removing his chances of winning another medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Richard Whitehead’s early aspirations: “I was shy and very quiet as a child. All my grandmother wanted for me was that I learn to drive and get a girlfriend” Richard Whitehead, MBE, the “Usain Bolt of the Paralympics”.
Richard Whitehead commenting on his success: “They always list the materialistic honours. Whether that’s gold medals at the Paralympics at London 2012 or Rio, world titles or the MBE that I received from Prince Charles in 2012. I think that those things are very nice and a lot of them are great for the family but for me, I’d say I’m not governed by that success. Yes, it gives me a great platform to open up conversations, but I’m successful because I’ve worked hard, been dedicated and disciplined. I’ve had people around me that have given me the guidance and the opportunity to be the best that I ever could be”.
Commenting on his change of classification from T42 to T61: “So, it can be quite frustrating as an athlete having to change. I started as a marathon runner and then had to change to 200 meters because I didn’t have a long-distance event. To run in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and get the gold in the 200 meters and the silver in the 100 meters and then to have the event cut is obviously quite frustrating. Not just for myself, but also for the legacy that you leave for other athletes. It’s really important that when you’re competing that you’re not just competing for yourself but for the sustained impact that your event has on the next generation of athletes”.
Growing up with a disability: Richard grew up in Nottingham, UK, overcoming challenges of a double through the knee congenital amputation to reach the top of his sport worldwide. Since childhood, Richard has taken part in a broad range of sports. He was a swimming teacher before competing for Team GB as an ice sledge hockey player at the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Turin and then transitioned into running but even then, he did not stick to one event!
Amongst Richard's many achievements: He broke the world record at the 2010 Chicago Marathon, completing his run in two hours and 42 seconds. He has completed 40 marathons in 40 days. He won the gold medal in the 200m at the London 2012 Paralympics, defended his title in the 200 T42 and won gold at the Rio Paralympics 2016. Furthermore, he claimed gold at the 2017 IPC World Championships and Silver at the World Para Championships 2019 in Dubai, relinquishing his Gold medal to Ntando Mahlangu, 17-year-old South African who claimed gold.
Richard's broader purpose: Richard would like to be known for more than his achievements as an elite athlete.
He is very active on the keynote speech circuit inspiring people with his “human story”, is an outspoken “athlete’s voice” who promotes, diversity and equality and works with many charities both as a fund raiser and ambassador. In memory of his friend Simon Mellows and inspired by amputee Terry Fox, Richard ran 40 marathons in 40 days, from completing over 900 miles to raise money for Sarcoma UK and Scope charities.
Richard has worked with charities Meningitis Trust and Autism Awareness as well as helping amputees injured as a result of the Syrian Civil War in Jordan with humanitarian group Médecins Sans Frontier (MSF).
This interview with Richard Whitehead MBE is one of the first of ideaXme's Tokyo 2020 playlist. We'll be interviewing the elite athletes and stakeholders in the games leading to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. Follow ideaXme's Tokyo 2020 playlist.
You can also watch the Tokyo 2020 interviews in video format on ideaXme's YouTube channel.
Credits: Filming by Alan Johnson and Parth Kakkar MetFilm School.
Follow us on Twitter @ideaxm on Instagram @ideaxme. ideaXme is a global podcast, creator series and mentor programme. Mission: Move the human story forward!™ ideaXme Ltd.