Latest news with #Wetherill
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Paralympian David Wetherill breaks marathon record on crutches
A former Team GB Paralympian has broken the record for running a marathon on crutches in the fastest Wetherill, who played table tennis at three Paralympic Games, has used crutches every day since he was 10 due to having a bone condition called multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED).Mr Wetherill, who lives in Plymouth but grew up in Torpoint, in Cornwall, completed the London Marathon on Sunday in 5:59:05, beating the previous record of 6:11:11. He said beating the record, combined with raising money for charity, made it "one of the most beautiful days of my life". 'A bit dazed' "It was unbelievable, honestly, probably the best achievement I've ever done", he told John Acres at Breakfast on BBC Radio Devon."That sense of achievement is unparalleled it was incredible."Mr Wetherill said the aim of completing the race in under six hours was motivating him towards the end of the marathon. "When I crossed the line I was a bit dazed," he said. "To beat it by 12 minutes in the end, obviously in the back of my mind that was driving me forward."The reason why we were doing this though was driving me much, much more."He added: "Yesterday was one of the most beautiful days of my life, if not the most beautiful." Mr Wetherill ran the marathon to raise money for type 1 diabetes charity Breakthrough T1D."I have unbelievable gratitude and thanks to everyone who has supported us," he said."We have raised about £15,000 and that's what it's all about really and that has just blown us away."The time and getting to the finish line is just beyond what we could have ever dreamt."
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Devon Paralympian aiming for world marathon record on crutches
A former Team GB Paralympian says he wants to "show people what's possible" when he attempts to run the fastest marathon on Wetherill, who played table tennis at three Paralympic Games, was born with a bone condition called multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED) - meaning he has had to use crutches every day since he was 35-year-old entered the London Marathon on 27 April and wants to break the world record for the fastest marathon while using current record stands at 6:11:11 when it was set by East Sussex's Chris Terrill. Wetherill, who lives in Plymouth but grew up in Torpoint, said setting a new record would be great, but he also wanted to inspire others."It's never really about breaking records, it's what those actually mean and the wider purpose behind them," he said."If we can use this as a conduit to show people what's possible and raise some money, then that is the dream essentially." He ran his first marathon in Barcelona last year, registering an unofficial time of 5 hours and 44 minutes, which would have broken the existing said completing a marathon on crutches with his condition meant he had to battle through what he described as a "pain cave"."My hip is actually dangling out of its joint at the moment and I'm in pain whether I'm lying in bed or running marathons so my philosophy is I may as well run a marathon," he said. 'Pushing myself' Wetherill said living as an elite athlete and training like an "absolute animal" had improved his mental resilience over the years and he felt prepared to take on any challenge."I've been in situations in my life where I've felt quite helpless and I've felt in despair - I've felt like I can't do things," he said."Growing up with a disability, inherently you have those times, and it's not always easy, and I think that's why I'm so addicted to now pushing myself."I've not just got off the sofa and decided to run a marathon, I've almost been training for this my whole life."The London Marathon is on 27 April.
