Lets Talk Para

Jack Clarke is the Performance Scientist for GB Wheelchair Rugby, and was previously the S&C coach for Loughborough Wheelchair Lightning Bassketball. Jack shares insights into training elite para-athletes, optimising performance for diverse sports, and the key principles behind strength and conditioning. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or sports enthusiast, he provides insight into how he got into the world of para-sport and advice for anyone looking to get into it.

Nik Diaper is a leading expert in para-sport and disability sport science. As the Head of Paralympic Performance Support at the UK Sports Institute, Nik has been instrumental in shaping the success of British Paralympians. With 22 years of experience in optimising athlete performance and a passion for inclusivity in sports, Nik shares his insights as a practitioner as well as his involvement within the Para-sport movement.

Ahalya Lettenberger is an accomplished para-swimmer and Paralympian from the United States. She competes in para-swimming events, specializing in freestyle and individual medley races, and is classified under the S7 category for her events. Ahalya has Arthrogryposis, a condition that affects her lower body, yet she has achieved remarkable success in her sport.

Ahalya shares her journey to the Paralympics and her experience in the US and UK as a student-athlete.

Joe McDonnell is the Head of Para Sprints at Loughborough University, recognized for coaching several elite para-athletes. His role involves working with athletes on the Paralympic World Class Programme, including champions like Kadeena Cox, Libby Clegg, and Thomas Young. McDonnell’s expertise has significantly contributed to Loughborough’s reputation as a leading hub for para-sport training and development.

In this episode Joe delves into his journey into para-sport as well the lessons he has learned which have helped him in forming his coaching philosophy for all his athletes.

George Bates is a British wheelchair basketball player. He has represented Great Britain at the international level and has been a key player in winning the Europeans and World Championships.Bates has also gained attention for advocating for inclusion and fair classification within para-sports.

His story became widely known when he was excluded from competing under updated International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) classification rules, which affected athletes with certain physical impairments.

Currently, George is the head coach of the women's Lightning Wheelchair Basketball Team.

Krysten Coombs is a British para-badminton player competing in the short stature (SH6) category. Coombs has represented Great Britain and won 2 Paralympic medals and numerous World Championship medals.

Outside of badminton, Krysten Coombs does some acting with appearances on 'Game of Thrones' and 'The Witcher'.