Disability Sports

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Disability Sport is an  inclusive element of the work of the County Sports Partnership.  The aim being to ensure that people with  physical, sensory and learning difficulties have equal access to sport and physical activity across Hampshire and Isle of Wight.  It is the job of the County's Disability Sports Development Officer to facilitate this, by working with National Governing Bodies, Local Authorities( Sports Development Officers, Schools and Adult Services) and local clubs.

Aims

  • Where appropriate, encourage the inclusion of disabled people into mainstream sport
  • Provide guidance on appropriate training for coaches, schools and sports professionals
  • Work with County Sports Partners in increasing sport and recreational opportunities for both youth and adult disabled community
  • Identify and create pathways in competitive sport for disabled people

About  Hampshire's Disability Sports Development Officer:

Peter Hull MBE, , Disability Sport,Development Officer Sport Hampshire & IOW / Hampshire County Council is a Gold medal winning Paralympic Swimmer. A member of Rushmoor Mallards Club, Peter shares his experiences.

"I started quite young, first getting into a swimming pool at the age of 5/6 years.  It was realised quite early on that, while having no legs and short arms, if I was to achieve a good quality of life I would have to rely heavily on a good upper body strength and general fitness.  With this in mind swimming was identified as the perfect activity.  After about 5 years of swimming for ‘fitness’ I swam in my first gala in the summer of 1975 at the BSAD (British Sports Association for the Disabled) National Championships at Stoke Mandeville.  It was a gold for the 50m backstroke (but I was the only swimmer in my classification!) – the rest is history.

Swimming, and more appropriately these days with regular sessions down the gym, has more than provided me with a good ‘quality of life’."

Achievements so far:

  • 1992 - Winner of three Gold medals (all with World Records) in the Barcelona Paralympics in the 50m backstroke and freestyle and 100m freestyle

  • 1991 - Winner of three Gold medals in the 50m backstroke, 50m and 100m freestyle at the Disabled European Swimming Championships

  • 1988 - Member of the British Swim Team for the Seoul Paralympics (4 4ths)

  • Completed 12 full marathons, including the London Marathon 6 times, and 18 half marathons

  • Awarded an MBE in 1991 for services to disability sport

DisabilitySports Officer