Lets Talk Para

Martin McElhatton OBE is a former Paralympian and the Chief Executive of WheelPower, the national charity for wheelchair sport in Britain. Martin shares his journey from representing Great Britain in wheelchair basketball at the 1984 Paralympic Games to leading WheelPower since 1987. In 2020, he received an OBE for his services to disability sport.

In this episode, he discusses his extensive involvement in wheelchair sports, including his voluntary roles in wheelchair tennis at both national and international levels. Martin reflects on the transformative power of sport for disabled individuals and his dedication to creating opportunities for participation and leadership in disability sports. He also talks about the recognition he received with an OBE in the 2020 New Year Honours for his services to disability sport.

Iain Gowans is a Doctoral Researcher at the Peter Harrison Centre at Loughborough University. He is also a Paralympic swimmer having represented Great Britain at the 1996 wAtlanta Games.

He graduated from the University of Strathclyde in Sport in the Community and completed his master’s degree in Equality Studies at University College Dublin in 2003. Between 2003-2021, Iain worked for the British Paralympic Association (BPA).

He started his PhD in 2021 and it looks at "Intentional Misrepresentation in Paralympic Athlete Classification", which he got inspiration to do from his own experiences as well as his work with the BPA. In addition to his research, Iain has developed  educational materials for athletes and staff on Classification, which has been reproduced and translated around the world.

Mike Hutchinson is the Athlete Services Manager at ParalympicsGB. He has been involved with Para-Sport since his placement year when he was doing his Undergraduate at the University of Bath, where he worked with ParalympicsGB in the lead up to London 2012. He also completed his PhD at the Peter Harrison Centre in Loughborough University where he looked at "The application of subjective ratings of perceived exertion to regulate exercise intensity during upper body exercise".

In this episode Mike delves into his journey in Para-Sport and then goes on to explain classification in para-sport and why it plays a pivotal role in the movement.

Daniel Angus is a Doctoral Researcher at Loughborough University’s Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport. His research explores the psychophysiological responses to stress in elite para-footballers. By utilising longitudinal studies, he aims to come up with a potential intervention study to improve performance.

Alongside his research, Daniel is partially sighted footballer playing in the England FA Cups and leagues. He has won numerous titles with his team throughout his career which started at a very young age.

In the episode, Daniel shares more about his research and how his journey in para-football has shaped and inspired it. He also delves into where he hopes to see his research and para-football go.

Fransiska Bossuyt is a researcher specialising in scapular kinematics and the biomechanics of soft-tissue injuries, with a focus on understanding muscle and tendon function to improve injury prevention and treatment. Currently, she is spearheading a project on shoulder health in vulnerable populations.

She is actively involved in rehabilitation research and policy, serving as co-chair of the COVID-19 taskforce within the International-ISIG of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, where she also holds the role of early career officer. Alongside her academic work, she is deeply engaged in para-sport, acting as a para-coach at Seeclub Luzern and as the para-rowing liaison officer for the Lucerne Regatta. In this role, she played a key part in securing the first-time inclusion of para-rowing at the final Paralympic qualification regatta and the World Cup.

During her IAS Fellowship, Dr. Bossuyt is collaborating with Professor Vicky Tolfrey, Dr. Tom O'Brien, Dr. James King, and Dr. Thomas Rietveld at the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences and the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, contributing her expertise to ongoing research in para-sport and rehabilitation.

Adam Dickinson is a Research Associate in Knowledge Translation and Stakeholder Engagement at the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Loughborough University's School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. In this role, he works closely with external partners to conduct qualitative needs analyses and translating research findings into practical applications.

Adam completed his PhD at Loughborough University in February 2025, with research partly funded by British Wheelchair Basketball. His doctoral work provides valuable insights into the experiences and opportunities within wheelchair basketball, contributing to a deeper understanding of access, development, and inclusion in the sport. Adam is actively involved in promoting inclusion and accessibility in disability sport. In February 2025, he represented the Peter Harrison Centre at an event focused on access and inclusion in sport, arts, and culture, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of his own amputation.

Vicky Goosey-Tolfrey is a leading expert in para-sport research and the Director of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport. With decades of experience working with Paralympic athletes, Vicky shares her insights into the science behind elite performance, the evolution of para-sport research, and the impact of her work on athlete preparation and recovery.

Olivia Broome is an elite British para powerlifter who has made a name for herself on the international stage. Olivia medalled at both the Tokyo and Paris Paralympic Games as well as the European Championships. She shares her journey into the sport, the challenges she’s overcome, and what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Alasdair Donaldson is the Head of Para Sport at Loughborough University, where he works to create opportunities for para-athletes. He delves into his journey into para-sport and the pivotal role Loughborough plays in nurturing talent from grassroots all the way to performance athletes. Beyond his work at the university, he shares insights into building an inclusive sporting environment and his vision for the future of para-sport going into the next game.

James Hollis is a Paralympian, world record holder and Commonwealth Games medalist. He delves into his journey in swimming and the challenges he faced growing up. Beyond para-swimming, he talks about the para-sport movement as well as his role as a Performance Lifestyle Mentor in the UKSI.