Nathan Maguire

Started: He began wheelchair racing in 2013 at Kirkby High School in England. (liverpoolecho.co.uk, 01 Aug 2014; sportsaid.org.uk, 30 Jun 2014) Reason: He was passionate about sport from a young age and played wheelchair basketball for seven years before taking up Para athletics. "My dad always thought I should try every sport that I could try, so I've done basketball, swimming, water skiing, rowing. You name it, I've tried it. I was always quite quick on the basketball court, so my dad thought I should try racing. After that, I never really looked back. I instantly fell in love with the independence of the sport, as I didn't have to depend on a team like I did in basketball, nor an adult or a carer. I love that a win is down to my hard work and a loss is also completely down to me and only I can correct that to improve." (birchallblackburn.co.uk, 01 Jul 2019; sportsaid.org.uk, 30 Jun 2014; thisismedtech.com, 03 Sep 2020) Ambition: To win gold at the Paralympic Games. (nathanmaguire.co.uk, 29 Oct 2023) Awards: In 2013 he received the Active Cheshire Para Sports Achiever of the Year Award in England. (sportsaid.org.uk, 30 Jun 2014; efds.co.uk, 01 Jun 2014) Additional Info: COACHING He works as an assistant coach at Kirkby Athletics Club in England. (LinkedIn profile, 05 Mar 2024) OTHER ACTIVITIES In December 2020 he and his partner Hannah Cockroft appeared on a celebrity special of the BBC TV quiz show 'The Hit List'. He has also served as an ambassador for the British charity Panathlon, which aims to give young people with an impairment the chance to take part in competitive sport. During the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2021, he was one of several athletes who took part in virtual Q&A sessions with schoolchildren as part of a programme organised by Panathlon. (bbc.co.uk, 31 Dec 2020; panathlon.com, 11 Feb 2021; LinkedIn profile, 05 Mar 2024) FURTHER EDUCATION He studied for a Business and Technology Education Council [BTEC] Level 3 diploma in sport studies [sport and exercise science] at Mid Cheshire College in England between 2013 and 2015. He also holds an athletics coaching Level 2 certificate through British Athletics, specialising in wheelchair racing. (LinkedIn profile, 05 Mar 2024)

Sporting Relatives: His partner Hannah Cockroft has represented Great Britain in Para athletics. She won a total of seven gold medals at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Paralympic Games in T34 events. (denbighshirefreepress.co.uk, 06 Aug 2022; SportsDeskOnline, 16 Sep 2022)