Jonnie Peacock

Jonnie’s journey to becoming one of Great Britain’s top Paralympians is marked by determination, courage, and an unyielding attitude. At the age of five, he contracted meningitis, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg below the knee. Despite being told to prepare for the worst, Jonnie made a remarkable recovery. His fighting spirit shone through as he embraced the challenge of learning to run with a prosthetic leg, encouraged by a Paralympic sports talent day.

Jonnie honed his skills through years of training and regional competitions. His breakthrough came in May 2012 at the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester, where he competed in his first international race. Just a month later, he broke the world record and clinched gold at the London 2012 Paralympics on 6th September, making it a year to remember.

In recognition of his contributions to athletics, Jonnie was awarded an MBE in the 2013 New Year’s Honours list. Despite battling injuries in 2015, he bounced back to triumph in 2016, winning the T44 100m final at the IPC Athletics European Championships in Grosseto and setting a British record of 10.68 seconds. At the Rio Paralympics, he became a double Paralympic Champion, setting a new record.

Jonnie’s success continued into 2017, winning gold at the World Para Athletics Championships. That year, he also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, further raising the profile of disability sport.

Jonnie Peacock is an inspiration to many, dedicated to promoting disability sport and participating in future Paralympics with the goal of winning more medals. His passion for sport and overcoming adversity shines through, inspiring everyone who hears his story.