We are delighted that Jonathan has joined our BRIT Ambassador family to support and improve young adult mental health throughout the UK.
Jonathan is a ParalympicsGB High Jumper who competes in both the T44 and T64 classifications. In 2021, Jonathan became Paralympic Champion at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
“I am a former student of both Loughborough College and Loughborough University, and have been involved with British Athletics and ParalympicsGB for almost ten years. I understand and appreciate the mental health challenges that young adults, students and athletes can experience. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the existing mental health challenges that many young students are living with and we must do more to ensure they receive appropriate support in order to avoid long-term consequences. If there was ever a time to provide support, encouragement and inspiration to improve young adult and student mental health and fitness throughout the UK, it is now.
The British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) exists to support young adult mental health and fitness by delivering the annual BRIT Challenge. Every university, college, specialist college and Students’ Union are invited to enter teams and encourage student and staff participation. The BRIT Challenge has been designed to be fully inclusive so that young adults, students and staff of all abilities can take part in many different ways and wherever they are; adding the distance they achieve personally to their team target. I am delighted that teams can choose a local, regional or national charity to raise funds for, alongside BRIT, as many have felt the impact of COVID-19 on their fundraising efforts.
I am delighted to be a BRIT Ambassador and urge my fellow Olympians, Paralympians and athletes from every sport to join the BRIT Ambassador family; we all have lived experience that, when shared, can have a positive impact on supporting young adult mental health and fitness. By uniting, together we can have a UK-wide impact on encouraging every university and college to take part in the BRIT Challenge, destigmatising mental health and championing equality, diversity and inclusion. I wish students and staff at Loughborough University and Loughborough College the very best of luck as they take on the BRIT Challenge”
Jonathan Broom-Edwards
ParalympicsGB Gold medallist
Jonathan was born with congenital talipes equinovarus (clubbed foot) in his left foot which leaves him with muscular dystrophy of his calf muscles as well as fusion and restricted range of motion of his left ankle. His right foot, although not affected as severely as the left, also experiences some difficulties with stability.
Between 2007 and 2011, Jonathan studied for a Master of Engineering Degree (MEng) in Aeronautical Engineering at Loughborough University and then between 2013 and 2014, completed a Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT) Level 4 in Sports Massage at Loughborough College.
After being classified as a T44 athlete in 2013, Jonathan qualified for the British Athletics team with a personal best of 2.06 metres at the Bedford International Games. That same year, he won his first major international medal, a Silver at the World Championships in Lyon. Gold was won by Maciej Lepiato of Poland, who has become a familiar rival of Jonathans, regularly competing at international championships.
In 2014, Jonathan and Maciej met at the Para Athletics European Championships in Swansea. Jonathan recorded a personal best of 2.15 metres, a world record height that would have won gold at the 2012 Paralympic Games. However, he took Silver Medal as Maciej recorded another new world record of 2.17 metres.
After returning from injuries in 2015, Jonathan won Silver Medal at the World Para Athletics Championships in Doha.
At the Europeans in 2016, Jonathan was pushed into Bronze Medal position in the mixed (T42 and T44 ) class competition due to a change in the Razza points system. However, that same year, Jonathan went on to achieve a season best at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janiero to win a Silver Medal.
Jonathans run of silver medals continued at the 2017 World Para Athletics World Championships in London. Unfortunately, in 2018 Jonathan sustained a major injury by rupturing his left Achilles.
However returning from injury in 2019, his hard work came together as he took the Gold Medal at the World Para Athletics World Championships in Dubai.
Jonathan continued his domination in the event in 2021, becoming Paralympic Champion and taking the Gold Medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Outside of his elite athlete career, Jonathan is a Professional Sports Therapist, specialising in soft tissue release, gait analysis and postural realignment at JBE Sports Therapy. He is also a motivational speaker, for more information, please visit Jonathan’s website.
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