At 21, he’s achieved so much – now it’s time for a change
SWIMMING CHAMPION JOSEF RETIRES AT 21 TO COACH
HE won our hearts when he brought gold back to Geordie soil from the 2012 Paralympics.
Now Jarrow’s champion swimmer Josef Craig has announced his retirement at the age of 21.
Josef was just 15 when he became Britain’s youngest gold medallist and set a world record in the S7 400m freestyle final in London.
The South Tyneside athlete, who has cerebral palsy, added two golds at the World Championships in Montreal the following year.
And now Josef plans to move into coaching and said: “It’s time for a new challenge.”
Named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2012, he was reclassified in the early part of 2014, moving up from the S7 class to S8 where he competed against less impaired athletes.
He returned to competition in that same year and continued to reach the podium with more medals at the European Championships in Eindhoven.
He qualified for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and secured bronze in the 100m freestyle, becoming the first person to win medals at consecutive Games after being reclassified.
Josef added that his proudest moment was being appointed MBE for services to swimming and sport “by the Queen herself”.
Asked about his move into coaching, he said: “To be able to help individuals gain an important life skill and also go on to achieve will be really rewarding.”
In the run-up to the Rio Games, Josef suffered with anxiety, bipolar and depression issues while continuing to train and compete.
“I went through a lot and for a long time; I now want to use the platform and influence I have to help those facing mental issues,” he said.
“I want to use my journey as evidence that it is possible to turn things around no matter how bad a situation may appear.”
Josef’s mum, Kim, posted an emotional tribute to her son and his achievements on social media.
She wrote: “An emotional day today. I was proud when you took your first steps, proud when you gave a talk about your disability aged only 7 years old (it went down so well that lots of the children wanted to be disabled and wear a splint), proud when you started comprehensive school without your best friend, proud when you became a gold medallist, world champion, MBE, Young Sports Personality of the Year, the list is endless.
“I’ve always been proud of you and always will. You’ll shine in whatever you do. You are an amazing young man and I love you with all my heart. Now is the start of a new chapter.”