Going for glory at Tokyo ’20
By playing The National Lottery, you’ve helped get ParalympicsGB athletes to Tokyo 2020. Here are some of the stars tipped for medal success
TEAM GB’s spectacular medalwinning success at Tokyo 2020 has already worked wonders in raising the spirits of the nation.
And there’s more to come. Because it’s now the turn of our Paralympians to take to the field of dreams, with the promise of further heroic performances.
The squad will compete in 19 of the 22 featured sports, including athletics, swimming, cycling, rugby – and, for the first time in the Paralympics, badminton and taekwondo.
And their bid for glory has been made possible by you, the National Lottery players. Since 1997, National Lottery funding has supported more than 6,000 athletes so they can train full time, and access top coaches and scientific and medical support.
Let’s meet just a few of the ParalympicsGB stars hoping to triumph in Tokyo…
ALI JAWAD Age: 32 Discipline: para powerlifting
Born without legs and then diagnosed with life-threatening Crohn’s disease at the age of 19, Ali Jawad has overcome what might seem impossible odds to become a world champion powerlifter and Paralympic medal winner.
Ali’s family moved to London from Lebanon at the height of the civil war when he was six months old. Then aged 16 he revealed a talent for powerlifting.
On the eve of his Paralympic debut in Beijing in 2008 Ali fell ill with what was later diagnosed as Crohn’s disease, but still managed to compete, coming ninth.
He just missed out on a bronze medal in London 2012, finally winning his first Paralympic medal with a silver in Rio.
In getting to Tokyo Ali has battled severe bouts of Crohn’s. As he prepared to leave, the man who psyches himself up before contests by listening to the theme from Rocky tweeted: “I’ve said all along that my medal was just to qualify. I’ve pushed Crohn’s disease to limits that not many people would dare, hung on when it was perceived impossible. Regardless of the end, this is my best achievement of my life. Thank you for all your support.”
JONNIE PEACOCK
Age: 28 Discipline: para athletics
As the 100m sprint champion in the T44 event ( for athletes with a single below-the-knee amputation) in both London and Rio, Jonnie is hoping to strike gold yet again in Tokyo.
And while he admits that the postponement of the games and Covid restrictions have been challenging, he’s not the type to let anything knock him off his stride.
“I have just focused on preparing myself in the best way, hoping I execute a good, clean race,” he says.
Jonnie had his right leg amputated after contracting meningitis when he was five. Inspired by watching the Beijing Paralympics, he attended a British Paralympic Association talent identification programme and was soon competing in major events.
He is thankful for the support made possible by National Lottery players:
“It plays a big part in helping us to win so many medals. The fact is that it allows us to be full-time professional athletes. We lead the world in that respect.”
HANNAH COCKROFT
Age: 29 Discipline: para athletics
For Hannah, Tokyo is the next step in her bid to match the record haul of one of Britain’s greatest Paralympians, Baroness Tanni GreyThompson, who won 11 golds on the track between 1992 and 2004.
In contesting the 100m and 800m T34 events ( for athletes with cerebral palsy or traumatic brain injury), “Hurricane Hannah” is intent on adding to the three golds she won in London and the two she clinched in Rio in 2016.
Hannah, who survived two cardiac arrests at birth that affected her balance and mobility, says support from The National Lottery has been vital for UK Paralympians like her. “It means we can focus 100 per cent on our sport. Some of my international competitors have to work full time to fund their competitions and training.”