Jonnie Peacock is the Double Paralympic, World & European 100m
Champion in the T44 classification. This incredible athlete won his first
Paralympic title at the London 2012 Games during one of the most successful
summers in British Athletics history, going on to successfully defended his
title at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. At that competition, Jonnie made a permanent
mark on the record books, running a time of 10.81 seconds in the T44 100m
final, setting a Paralympic record in the process.
In a remarkable and inspiring journey, Jonnie’s determination,
courage and attitude has led him to become one of Great Britain’s finest
Paralympians. Jonnie was only five years old when he contracted Meningitis,
destroying the tissue in his right leg and resulting in an amputation just
below the knee. At the time his family were told to prepare themselves for the
worst. After a remarkable recovery, and with the fighting spirit which would
eventually help him to become a world-class sprinter, Jonnie made a full
recovery from the disease. Whilst having his prosthetic leg fitted in hospital,
Jonnie was encouraged to take part in a Paralympic sports talent day.
After years of training and
learning his trade at regional events, it was in May 2012 that Jonnie competed
in his first international race at the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester. A
month later he broke the World Record and on 6th September 2012 he won his first Gold
medal. In 2013, Jonnie was awarded with an MBE in the New Years Honours list
for his admirable services to athletics.
In 2016, Jonnie began his fantastic season by winning the T44 100m
final at the IPC Athletics European Championships in Grossetto and just a month
prior to the Paralympic Games Jonnie recorded a lifetime best (10.68) and a
British Record at the Loughborough EAP meeting. On the 9th September 2016
Jonnie became a double Paralympic Champion, defending his title and setting a
new Paralympic Record (10.81) in the process. Jonnie then continued his
unbelievable success into 2017 by winning GOLD in the World-Para Athletics
Championships.