Richard Whitehead’s path to the top of Paralympic sprinting ran through an unexpected first stop: ice. Before he became a track athlete, he represented Great Britain in sledge hockey at the 2006 Turin Winter Paralympics, a chapter that preceded his move into athletics.
On the track, Whitehead built one of the most decorated records in T42 sprinting, winning Paralympic gold in the 200m at London 2012 and again at Rio 2016, per his ParalympicsGB athlete profile. As a double above-knee amputee competing in the T42/T61 classification, his results placed him among the sport’s most recognised figures over that period.
Whitehead’s achievements extended beyond the track and into distance running. Up until 2019, he held records as the fastest double-leg amputee to complete both half and full marathon distances. His verified Instagram account continues to describe him as the ‘Fastest Leg Amputee Ever on the Road,’ listing the marathon and half-marathon times behind that distinction.
Born on 19 July 1976 in Nottingham, Whitehead’s career spans two Paralympic sports and multiple distance disciplines, reflecting a body of work built across winter and summer Games and across sprint and endurance events alike.
What Richard Whitehead MBE uses
- Össur prosthetic running equipment
Listed as a sponsored Össur ambassador on the company's website, described as a Paralympian, sprinter, and marathon runner.
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