Richard Whitehead

Richard Whitehead is a talented Paralympian, who has emerged victorious as a competitor in sprinting and marathons. A two time Gold and a Silver Paralympic medallist, Richard has competed in the 100m and 200m disciplines taking home the win. Having also broken the World Record for the Chicago Marathon, Richard is a talented marathon runner and a truly inspirational athlete. With such a successful career behind him, Richard is now booked as a sports speaker or after dinner speaker for a range of events, sharing his story of overcoming adversity and achieving success.

A double knee congenital amputee, Richard has overcome adversity to succeed. Not letting his disability hold him back, Richard runs with prosthetic legs and has gone on to claim four Gold and one Bronze IPC World Championship medals and three Gold and one Bronze IPC European Championship medals. He has also competed in various full and half marathons, such as the Chicago Marathon and the London Marathon- placing in 23rd place at the 2013 London Marathon. Richard has also made headlines for his ‘Richard Whitehead Runs Britain’ campaign, running 40 marathons in 40 days to raise money for Sarcoma UK and Scope.

Competing at his first Paralympics in 2006, Richard was formerly a sledge hockey player at the 2006 Turin Winter Paralympic Games. Finding a passion for running, Richard competed in the London 2012 Paralympic Games, returning victorious with a Gold Paralympic medal in the 200m T42 class. Four years later, Richard upheld his victory and claimed another Gold Paralympic medal in the 200m T42, and this time also claimed a Silver Paralympic Medal in the 100m T42 class. In 2021, after their postponement by a year, Richard competed at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games claiming a Paralympic Silver in the T61 200m.

Outside of his sporting feats, Richard became the first Patron of Sarcoma UK and is also a Patron of the Footprints Conductive Education Centre and the Gedling Sports Partnership. He has also been commended by the Queen, being appointed MBE for his Services to Athletics.

Richard has also been the Captain of the Dubai Para-Athletic World Championships team and is now booked as a speaker for a range of corporate and public events. A strong believer that sport unites people, Richard raises awareness of how sport can increase wellbeing and have a positive effect on mental health. In his motivational speaking, Richard encourages audiences to focus on what they have and have achieved, rather than what they don’t have, encouraging people to support those less fortunate than themselves and make a difference. Empowering able-bodied and disabled individuals alike to believe in themselves, Richard ensures that the legacy of disabled athletes is continued for generations to come. When looking for an inspirational sports speaker, Richard Whitehead is an insightful and influential choice.