In 2018, Melanie Woods was riding her bike in Inverness when a car seemed to come out of nowhere and hit her. She instantly knew her injuries would be catastrophic and change her life, especially as she was working as a PE teacher. Her multiple injuries would ultimately leave her paralysed from the waist down.

Whilst in the hospital, Melanie watched the Paralympic games on television, and she resolved to join a sports team when she got out. Initially trying wheelchair tennis, rugby, swimming, archery and skiing, she ultimately found wheelchair racing. Just one year after her accident, she joined Glasgow’s Red Star Athletics Club and started competing in professional tournaments.

Even more amazingly, in 2021 she was called up to the Paralympics GB Team, placed in third place at the British Championships, and was picked to compete in the delayed 2020 Paralympics in the same year. Since then, she has competed at distances from 100 metres to 10 km, but it’s the longer races that she prefers, and she aims to better her medal position for the next Paralympic games.

Melanie competed in the 2024 Paris Games, finishing 6th in the Women’s 400m and 800m, and 8th in the Women’s 1,500m.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book Paralympic wheelchair racer Melanie Woods for your corporate event.

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