All About Me

My Journey

Born and raised in Nottingham in the UK with a double through- knee congenital amputation, I developed a passion for sport at an early age. My parents encouraged me to participate in sports and taught me to live a life without limits.

In 2004 I dreamt of running a marathon and signed up for the New York Marathon, having never run a mile. Spurred on by the death of my best friend Simon whom we had lost to an aggressive form of bone cancer and also by amputee Terry Fox who had died from a similar bone cancer before completing his own running challenge across Canada, I knew I wanted to run to challenge myself and to raise awareness and funds for Sarcoma. At the time, I had no prosthetic running legs and was running on my knees using sports cups which was extremely gruelling and painful. At the 11th hour only 13 days before the New York Marathon, Ossur heard about my story and fitted me with my first running blades and I successfully completed my first marathon.

Driven by a desire to compete in sport as a professional athlete on the world stage and push boundaries, I was selected for the ParalympicsGB team as a sledge hockey player at the 2006 Winter Paralympic Games in Turin.

Paralympic Success

Having experienced the pride of representing my country, when news of London 2012 broke I was keen to compete in the marathon on home soil. To my great disappointment I was told by the IPC that my disability was not eligible to compete and despite writing to complain about this lack of equality they refused to allow me to race.

Undeterred, I set about re-training and set my sights on competing in the T42 200 metre category as part of the ParalympicsGB team. As I crossed the line winning Gold I looked to the sky and dedicated my win to my friend Simon who had always supported and believed in me.

Following London 2012, I retained my Gold medal at Rio 2016, also winning Silver in the T42 100m. I have also achieved four World Championship titles in 200m.

In 2019 I captained the team at the Dubai Para-Athletic World Championships, and achieved silver in the postponed 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, in T61 200m.

Fastest Amputee Runner In The World!

What began as the euphoria of crossing the finish line at my first marathon in New York in 2004 has grown into a global journey that has shaped my life, my purpose, and my platform. Since that day, I’ve competed in marathons around the world, becoming a World Champion and World Record holder in both the full and half marathon, achievements I’m incredibly proud of.

What I love most about marathon running is the sense of community. These events bring together people of all ages, cultures, and abilities. As an athlete living with a disability, I’ve seen first hand how visibility can shift perceptions. When people see someone like me out there on the course, it reinforces a simple truth - anything is possible when you believe in yourself.

In 2013, following the momentum of the London 2012 Games, I wanted to use my platform to create meaningful impact. With the support of my team, friends, family, and sponsors, I completed the 40 Marathons in 40 Days challenge from John O’Groats to Land’s End, raising vital funds for Sarcoma UK and Scope. That challenge changed me, and it set the tone for everything that followed.

Since then, I’ve run over 100 marathons worldwide, each one with its own story and purpose. In March 2024, I set a World Record for athletes with bilateral knee amputations at the TCS London Marathon. Later that year, after months of focused training, I broke my own record again at the Chicago Marathon, finishing in 2:41:36.

Just weeks later, in November 2024, I was honoured to be inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame, a moment that meant as much to me personally as any medal or record.

Then came 2025 - a landmark year in which I completed my 100th career marathon, alongside 20 marathons in a single year across the globe. But that milestone wasn’t a finish line, it was a springboard.

And in April 2026, I pushed the boundaries once more, breaking my own World Record again at the Milano Marathon, running 2:40:47.

My journey continues to evolve, but the mission remains the same: to show what’s possible, to champion inclusion, and to inspire others to chase their own extraordinary.

Photo @ David Baird

Believe Achieve!

Despite my achievements on the track and the road, for me winning isn't just about the medals. I believe strongly in the power of sport as a great unifier and leveller.

Sport has the ability to unite people and to create joy, whether you are a participant or spectator and its benefits shouldn't be under estimated.

As well as the physical benefits sport brings, it equally supports positive well being and good mental health. I'm passionate about raising awareness and advocating these values, and the critical importance of inclusion within organisations locally and nationally, at events, and across schools and sports clubs.

I use my time to encourage others to have a positive mindset and to give back to their community. Whilst I have a physical disability, my life is rich in so many other ways and as a president to my own charity and patron of other, I encourage others to think about what they do have, not what they don't and to think about how they can help others and make a difference. In today's society so many are consumed with their own needs and wants and we need to focus on supporting those less fortunate.

Giving my time to encourage disabled and able bodied people to have greater belief in themselves, to challenge themselves to live a fulfilling life and reach new goals is extremely rewarding.

As a key figure in sport, I am keen to use my profile to work with governing bodies and young people to ensure the legacy our generation of disabled athletes has worked so hard to establish continues. I want everyone to be given greater opportunities to be involved in sport and wellness activities, ensuring inclusion and positively throughout.

Charities & Community

In 2021 I launched and am the president of The Richard Whitehead Foundation, a charity to enable disabled peoples' ambitions through the power of sport and physical activities, across the UK.

I am also the patron of other charities, including Footprints Conductive Education Centre, Ann Craft Trust (both in Nottingham) and Sarcoma UK. I support as many other charity and community projects as I can with fundraising support, public appearances and social content.

April 2026 saw me announced as Mental Health UK's newest Ambassador, helping to break down stigma and help more people feel able to reach out for support when they need it.