17th September 2021

Congratulations ParalympicsGB!

As part of our partnership with the British Paralympic Association, we have been fortunate to follow and interact with several athletes across various disciplines as they prepared for the 2020 Paralympic Games. Here we reflect on the success of ParalympicsGB in Tokyo.

Following months of build-up and excitement and getting to know our ParalympicsGB athletes a little more through our partnership with the British Paralympic Association, the Tokyo Games have now been and gone. And all we are left to say is what a remarkable Tokyo 2020 it has been for ParalympicsGB!

There have been many highlights and emotions, culminating in an impressive 124 medal haul. The athletes’ performances have illustrated the team’s resilience and strength in the toughest of circumstances.

As part of our partnership with the British Paralympic Association, we have been fortunate to follow and interact with several athletes across various disciplines as they prepared for the Games.

Supporting our athletes on their journey to Tokyo

Back in July 2020, Grace Clough got us off to a great start by hosting a webinar on resilience where she opened up about her story of physical endurance and mental resilience. Grace has risen to the very top of her sport whilst also overcoming dyslexia to complete a Master’s degree at Oxford.  She won gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games as an integral member of the PR3 mixed coxed four team. She has since retired from competition and is now a teacher.

To mark the ‘One year to go’ milestone back in August 2020, we shone the spotlight on six times Paralympic champion, David Weir who recorded this message highlighting what backing from Sir Robert McAlpine means to the team.   We were also fortunate to catch David in action at Richmond Park at one of his training sessions.

To mark International Day of People with Disabilities on 3rd December 2020, our Ability Affinity Network, which champions inclusion and diversity, hosted a webinar with David Smith on the theme ‘Adapting to Change’. During the session, David shared stories from his own experience and achievements.

At the Tokyo 2020 Games, David beat Malaysia's Chew Wei Lun to secure gold with a 4-2 victory in the Individual Boccia event. The win was his fifth medal and means he overtakes mentor and former teammate Nigel Murray as ParalympicsGB's most decorated Boccia player!

Emma Wiggs and ParalympicsGB Tokyo 2020 Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe joined our ‘Together in 21’ Team Conference in January 2021, and shared insights into ParalympicsGB, including how they stay resilient and the valuable lessons they have learned. Emma was victorious at the Tokyo Games, racing her way to gold and making history by becoming double Paralympic champion and the first ever winner in the Paralympic Women's VL2 event!

To help get us in shape and ready for our release from lockdown back in March 2021, Alice Tai shared her latest core strength workout, just for our people. Alice unfortunately didn’t compete at the Games due to an elbow injury, but we hope to see her back in competition at the Paris 2024 Games. 

Dame Sarah Storey joined over 100 colleagues for a cycling Q&A workshop in April 2021. It was a fantastic experience to hear her reliving memories, sharing top tips and, of course, showing us her bike!  During the Tokyo Games, Dame Sarah made history as she became the most decorated Paralympian with a stunning 17th career gold!

And, ahead of the Paralympic Games this summer, Amy Truesdale and Richard Whitehead joined our ‘Pass the Baton’ virtual relay and featured as guests in our Beyond 1% podcast episode where they talked about what inclusion means to them.

Taekwondo made its Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020 and what an introduction for Amy who won bronze in the K44 +58kg event. Richard also medalled and won silver in the men's T61 200m.

Thank you to all those athletes who have joined us for these events as part of our partnership activities for ParalympicsGB which has made for a truly memorable experience.

If you’re missing the Games already, why not relieve some of the moments here.

The Games may be over but inspiring a better world for people with a disability isn't. And we know that our amazing athletes can be an inspiration for change.

#ImpossibleToIgnore 

On behalf of everyone at Sir Robert McAlpine, I would like to extend my congratulations to the ParalympicsGB team for their world class performance in Tokyo! I am immensely proud of our partnership with the BPA and very grateful to all those athletes who have shared their valuable experience and insights with our people over the past two years. I know that their stories and journeys have inspired us to be the best at what we do, challenged us to embrace more diversity, and spurred us on to foster an inclusive culture where everyone can unlock their true potential.

Paul Hamer , Sir Robert McAlpine, CEO

Our partnership activities

  1. Watch ParalympicsGB athlete David Weir in action

    06 Oct 2020

    We are proud to be an official partner of the British Paralympic Association (BPA) ahead of the postponed Tokyo Paralympic Games. Earlier this year, we caught up with para athlete David Weir at one of his training sessions.

    Read more about Watch ParalympicsGB athlete David Weir in action
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