Focus on disability sport

Richard Whitehead is a 30-year-old congenital double amputee who has represented his country at Swimming, Cricket and most recently the Paralympic equivalent to Ice Hockey, Sledge Hockey.

He has transferred his natural athleticism and determination to long-distance running, and having completed the New York Marathon in 2004 is having another crack at the famous run through the five boroughs on November 5th, this time in aid of the SARCOMA cancer charity.

He also works for Nottinghamshire county council as a sports development coach focusing on children with disabilities.

"A lot of development work still needs to happen," Richard said about disability athletics while training in London. "There aren't many role models who aren't chair users."

"Hopefully having a visible disability encourages the children I work with - able-bodied and disabled - to participate."

Richard has recently completed distance runs in his native Nottingham, Mount Snowden in Wales and Capetown in South Africa. He is almost entirely funded by charity and private sponsorship and he uses prosthetic legs to compete in the same field as able-bodied runners.

"(Disability athletics) needs more support through sponsorship and funding; there is lottery money but it's not easily accessible to everyone and it's focused towards wheelchair basketball, swimming and athletics," he continued.

"Being involved in Wintersports I realised that it's not even a priority for able-bodied athletes, let alone those with disabilities. There are a lot more opportunities for disabled athletes but attitudes need to change."

Richard is hoping to represent Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics in London, where disability events are tipped to be showcased alongside the traditional Olympic events.

"In the 2012 London Olympics we need to show more disability sports within the Olympics itself, as seen in the World Championships."

"There are only two real icons in British disability athletics - (multiple wheelchair track gold medallist) Tanni Grey-Thompson and former Great Britain wheelchair basketball captain Ade Adepitan."

"We are missing genuine rivalries."

"Olympic running events only go up to 800m, with the marathon only being available for the visually impaired. But we're showcasing triathlon in 2012 which I will try to qualify for."