John has had a highly successful career as a field athlete competing in five Paralympic games. In the 1984 games he took the gold medal and set a new world record in the discus event. In the following Seoul Paralympics in 1988 he took the silver position in discus but also took the bronze in the pentathlon competition. In the Barcelona games John was Top British Representative and his success was echoed yet again when he was picked to compete in the Atlata games.

John has had a highly successful career as a field athlete competing in five Paralympic games. In the 1984 games he took the gold medal and set a new world record in the discus event. In the following Seoul Paralympics in 1988 he took the silver position in discus but also took the bronze in the pentathlon competition. In the Barcelona games John was Top British Representative and his success was echoed yet again when he was picked to compete in the Atlata games.

John has not limited his athletic achievement on the field as in 1987 he took part in the London Marathon taking fifth place and in the same year he also competed in the British Half Marathon Championships.

John has mirrored his success off the field in his charity fundraising activities. In 1987, accompanied by his friend Chris Hallam, John raised £25,000 by completing a 400 mile wheelchair push around the perimeter of Wales to raise money to build the Wales Sports Centre for the disabled. Since then over £500,000 has been raised and the building has been erected. Another ‘Push Around Wales’ in 1997, achieved 600 miles in 37 days where John and Chris raised approximately £30,000 for disabled sport.

Moving away from John’s sporting achievement he taken on a number of very demanding but hugely rewarding professional roles. John is the former Director of G.S.C Sports Centre, the trustee for PvsH (People Verses Handicap) who worked to build the Wales Sports Centre for the Disabled, has been PowerSports International’s Consultant on issues concerning provision of fitness equipment for Disabled people and provides advice on access concerns for premises. John has also presented his own radio show ‘Close to Home’ for BBC Radio Wales.

Audience responses have been of inspiration, laughter and respect. He has always talked confidently and at the right level to his various audiences.
Dr Nick Krasner MBCHB DRCOG MRCGP MSc Sports Medicine