Latest news with #SuperheroTri
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Paralysed Weybridge schoolboy, 10, completes team triathlon event
A 10-year-old schoolboy who is paralysed from the chest down is aspiring to complete every discipline of the triathlon after taking part in an inclusive event. Emerson, from near Weybridge, Surrey, completed the cycling and run/push sections of the Superhero Tri challenge at Eton Dorney Lake in Berkshire on Saturday along with his mum Anna-Marina. The full triathlon event is comprised of a 20km (12.4 mile) cycle, 750m swim and 5km (3.1 mile) push/run. Emerson, who has competed annually since the event was launched in 2017, said he was "very tired" but added that he "wanted to try all three sports next time". He took part with his mum, stepdad Rob and his best friend Leo with all four team members dressed as the Fantastic Four. Speaking to BBC Radio Surrey, Anna-Marina said: "We don't let Emerson's disability define him. "He's going to be bigger, bolder and even braver and he'll take on all three sports next year and I'm already looking at how we make that happen." Emerson already takes part in wheelchair racing, so the next challenge is to adapt the swimming section of the event. His mum added: "We need to get Emerson in the pool, whether I pull him in a boat or something, we're going to find a way we can do it altogether." Emerson was left paralysed from the chest down by a spinal cord injury sustained during an operation to decompress a cyst on his spinal nerve when he was 19 months old. During his recovery, his family were inspired by the 2016 Rio Paralympics on TV. The Superhero Tri series was launched by Surrey paralympian Sophia Warner and allows disabled and non-disabled people to take part in triathlons - either solo, or in a team.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Paralysed boy from Weybridge to lead athletes at triathlon
A 10-year-old schoolboy from Surrey who is paralysed from the chest down will lead a team of Paralympians at a triathlon who lives near Weybridge, will complete the cycling and run/push sections of the full Superhero Tri before leading Paralympic swimming medallist and European champion Callie-Ann Warrington and Paralympic and world rowing champion Laura Sugar in the sprint event."Superhero Tri gave us hope and planted the first seed in Emerson about all he can do," said Emerson's mother, Anna-Marina, who described her son as having a "fearless spirit".The Superhero Tri will be held at Dorney Lake, Windsor, on 16 August. In August 2016, when Emerson was aged just 19 months, he had an operation to decompress an arachnoid cyst which was pressing on his spinal nerve. While the cyst was decompressed, the surgery resulted in a spinal cord injury that left Emerson paralysed from the chest down."As we were coming to terms with his diagnosis and paralysis, we were with him in hospital teaching him how to sit up again," said Anna-Marina."This was 2016 and the Rio Paralympics were being shown on TV."Seeing disabled athletes taking part in multiple sports was incredible to watch from his hospital bed and gave us strength at a time when we needed it most. "They opened our eyes to what might be possible for Emerson."At the same time, Sophia Warner was reporting trackside from Rio - but she was also hatching a plan for a large scale event for people with November, she launched the Superhero Tri. Warner is a Paralympian with cerebral palsy and was the first disabled person to enter the London Triathlon back in ahead of the Superhero Tri, she said: "It's so much fun and I think it sets out to prove that with everything set up in the right way, anything's possible."It's just great to see at grass roots level so many people with disabilities coming and taking part in sport just for Tri is now on its eighth event and has grown to include more than 5,000 plans to complete the adapted cycle and run sections in his wheelchair, and will be joined by his best friend Leo, mum and her partner said Emerson has grown in confidence since taking part in the events."He'll take on any sport - wheelchair racing, wheelchair tennis and anything with a ball - and he goes at life with a fearless spirit," she will be 28 Paralympians taking part in this weekend's event overall.
Daily Mirror
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Family told son might never walk - on his first birthday
Jenson Whitehouse was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and also has a rare chromosome condition and autism A 12-year-old boy who was warned he might never walk following a muscular dystrophy diagnosis on his first birthday has become a promising athlete who scales mountains, tackles triathlons and enjoys a spot of table tennis. Jenson Whitehouse, the youngest of four siblings born to Chantal and Garry Whitehouse, received his Duchenne muscular dystrophy diagnosis on his first birthday – "a progressive, life-limiting, muscle-wasting condition" for which "there's no cure" – and also has a rare chromosome condition and autism. "When he was born, everything seemed absolutely fine, but over the first year, we noticed he was delayed with his milestones," his mum Chantal said. "We got told: 'Oh, don't worry. Children do it all differently'. But I just had an inkling, because of the other three children, that something wasn't quite right." Jenson, who lives in Cheltenham with his family, received his diagnosis during a consultation that Chantal described as "really doom and gloom". His family was informed he may never manage to walk, that he could face a shortened life and that he wouldn't be capable of achieving very much. But Jenson has defied their expectations. He's now an energetic youngster who adores the great outdoors and throwing himself into physical pursuits, a love discovered through his participation in the Superhero Series – a collection of athletic events created for and by people with disabilities, which features major summer and Christmas events alongside home-based activities. "We've climbed Pen y Fan in Wales, we pushed him up in a wheelchair. We've done archery with him, paddle-boarding, hatchet throwing, alpaca walks... He's always up to his antics. He loves being out in the great outdoors," Chantal said. Jenson began walking just shy of his second birthday and, while he may not be as fast as other children, cannot jump or hop, and has some learning difficulties, he possesses "an amazing memory", his mum attests. "He's like an encyclopaedia, the way he goes on about a lot of topics we're not aware of!" Chantal remarked. "He just knows that one day, he'll lose his mobility, but he just gets on with life." Jenson's passion for outdoor activities and adventure was sparked by participating in the Superhero Tri, powered by Marvel, which was established in 2016 by Paralympian Sophia Warner, a track and field athlete with cerebral palsy who competed in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. His debut was at the 2021 Winter Wonderwheels event at age 8, and Chantal mentioned that the family plans to make the winter events an annual tradition since they fall around the time of Jenson's diagnosis anniversary. "Superhero Tri is my Paralympic legacy," Sophia, 51, said. "London 2012 inspired so many people with disabilities to try sport, but there was no mass-participation, grassroots event that put them and their needs front and centre. I wanted Superhero Tri to be not just 'inclusive': it had to be exclusively for people with disabilities by removing all the barriers to participation that typically come with other events." The highlight of the summer for many is the Superhero Tri, taking place this year in Windsor, which boasts three triathlon distances: the Sprint, featuring a 150m swim, 3km bike ride, and 1km run or push; the Half, consisting of a 400m swim, 10km bike ride, and 2.5km push/run; and the Full, challenging participants with a 750m swim, 20km cycle, and 5km push/run. This year's Superhero Tri, the ninth of its kind, anticipates a turnout of 5,000 eager participants. On August 16, coinciding with Chantal and Garry's 28th wedding anniversary, Jenson and his family – including his parents, family friend Graham, and Benji the dog – will tackle the Sprint Superhero Tri. Joining Jenson on the track run will be none other than Will Bayley, the esteemed Paralympic, World, and European table tennis champion. Chantal spoke highly of the event's impact on her son, saying, "It's good for his confidence," She shared how thrilled Jenson is post-event, brimming with excitement: "He's just buzzing... He's so chuffed to bits afterwards, because he loves telling everybody all about his adventures and what he's done. After one event, he's like, when can we do the next one?". For the swimming leg, Jenson will be on a paddleboard in the water, with his supporters propelling him forward. He's set to tackle the 3km cycle on a customised trike and will take on the 1km run with Will Bayley, who was born with arthrogryposis, affecting all four limbs. Chantal hopes that Jenson will manage to walk the 1km stretch, but if not, he'll use a special wheelchair, as the event allows participants to utilise any equipment they need to finish the race. "Our Everyday Superheroes call the shots and can take as long as they wish using whatever adaptive super kit, gadgets and gizmos they need to get them around the course," Sophia said. "The inventiveness of people astounds me – my favourites so far have been a side-by-side adapted double buggy and a wheelchair strapped to a float to be towed across the water section!". True to its name, the Superhero Series invites competitors to don costumes of their favourite heroes while honouring their own incredible achievements. Over time, Jenson has dressed as various superheroes from Batman to Ironman and Hulk. This year, he's set to embody Captain America, as Chantal notes, because he's "a huge star". He'll be donning the special Golden Cape, handed to him by sports journalist and broadcaster Clare Balding, as one of the event's seven Everyday Superheroes, an accolade recognising his constant grin and extraordinary spirit. "It's absolutely incredible to have the backing of all these different Paralympians and presenters, because I know everything in society with disabilities, it can sometimes always be dampened down," Chantal said. "It's great to be able to celebrate how much can be achieved with the disabilities that people have – they can be quite severe, but they can achieve so much. We were really sceptical when we were in that consultation room with his diagnosis, we thought: 'Oh, he's not going to be able to do anything'. To see how it is down the line – it gives so many families hope. "We just wish we had found out about the Superhero Series a lot sooner, because it's just so uplifting for the whole family. And it's a great talking point to help other families see that there is hope. There's so much more than just a diagnosis, and it's just about making the most of every single moment you have." The Superhero Tri, powered by Marvel, is set to take place at Dorney Lake in Windsor on Saturday, August 16.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wheelchair rugby coach takes on Marvel triathlon at Dorney Lake
A wheelchair rugby coach will be dressed as Captain Marvel as she takes on the most difficult challenge available at a sports event for people with Sycha, 40, from Wokingham, Berkshire, will take on the full Superhero Tri at Dorney Lake, near Windsor, in conditions left the mum-of-two needing a wheelchair weeks into her second pregnancy as she could collapse after standing for a couple of coach at the Berkshire Banshees wheelchair rugby club said it was tough to adjust initially but that she now has the "confidence" to celebrate who she is. "In the early days, I wasn't comfortable being disabled, I wasn't comfortable being seen. "I didn't feel I had a place in the world any more so my first wheelchair was all black. I tried not to be seen," she said."Now I'm not trying to be hidden. I am colourful and I am seen and have a right to be in the world. "I have that confidence that I didn't to begin with."She takes on the event's full challenge - a 750m swim, a 20km (12.4-mile) bike ride and a 5km (3.1-mile) push/run - having completed shorter challenges in previous of people are expected to attend the event dressed as their favourite by Marvel, the event on 16 August will be the Superhero Tri's ninth faces at 2024's event included comedian and presenter Adam Hills and Paralympic equestrian gold medallist Sophie Christiansen. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook and X.
