mark colbourne

Mark Colbourne was born on November 9, 1969, in Tredegar, Wales. His early athletic career included playing international-level volleyball for Wales between 1990 and 1993. In 2009, at 40 years old, Colbourne sustained a severe injury, breaking his back in a paragliding accident, falling 35 feet. This event marked a significant turning point in his life and career trajectory. Following his injury, he began cycling through Disability Sport Wales and quickly progressed, competing in the C1 classification for cyclists with severe disabilities on upright bikes. He trained at the Newport Velodrome and made his competitive debut in May 2010 at the Wales Grand Prix.

Colbourne’s cycling career advanced rapidly. In 2011, he earned his first UCI Para-Cycling World Cup medals, securing bronze in the C1 time trial in Segovia, Spain, and silver in the same event in Baie-Comeau, Canada. He also achieved a silver medal at the 2011 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Roskilde, Denmark. The year 2012 proved to be a pinnacle, as he won his first world title: a gold medal in the C1 3 km individual pursuit at the 2012 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles. At the same championships, he also took a silver in the C1 1 km time trial. Later that year, at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Colbourne won Great Britain’s first medal, a silver in the C1-3 1 km time trial. He then achieved a gold medal in the C1 3 km individual pursuit, setting new world records in both the qualification round and the final. He also secured another silver medal in the C1 Road Time Trial at the London Paralympics. For his contributions to cycling, Colbourne was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours.

After retiring from para-cycling in August 2013, Mark Colbourne transitioned into a new career path. He became a public speaker and an elite cycling and leadership coach, focusing on themes such as change and resilience. He also operates various programs, including the ‘365’ coaching programs and memberships, and offers corporate team-building days on the Al Qudra cycling track in Dubai, where he currently resides. Colbourne has worked to extend the legacy of the London 2012 Paralympic Games as the Paralympic Ambassador for the Lee Valley Velo Park and has collaborated with the national cycling charity CTC, continuing to inspire individuals and organizations with his journey.