A WARRINGTON Athletics Club sprinter has risen so rapidly in athletics that he has set his sights on competing at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
Daniel Gladman will aim for European and World Championships before then in what looks set to be an exciting four years ahead for him on the track.
The 31-year-old from Padgate hopes more support will be forthcoming from the top of the sport in this country to help him achieve his dreams.
He felt ‘snubbed’ after not being selected to represent Great Britain at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Daniel ‘ticked all the boxes’ regarding eligibility and achieving the qualification standard, said his coach and twin brother, James Gladman, who added it was ‘unfathomable’ not to have heard back from the selectors.
“Where our grievances lie in terms of the snub is not that he was ultimately not selected for the Paralympic Games in Paris this year, but that he received no communication from British Athletics to say he was even considered - he could even be a total stranger to them given the lack of communication,” said James.
“Having been involved in elite level athletics myself as a 110m hurdler/400m runner, and competing for GB & NI in both on several occasions, I know the selection process.
“You receive contact, most of the time a call letting you know whether you have or haven’t made the team.
“It is simply unfathomable that he didn’t have any contact regarding his dream of running in the Paralympics, after a year of blood, sweat and tears on the track.”
Daniel, a user experience (UX) designer and former student of Birchwood Community High School, started sprinting in January and contested his first race in April when he ran faster than the stated qualifying time for the 2024 Paralympic Games in his T64 category at a World Para Athletics recognised meeting in Coventry.
James said there are five stages to Games selection and added: “The fifth and final stage of selection, and for Daniel the most pertinent, is they will nominate athletes with future global medal potential.”
While Daniel was ranked joint 11th in the world at the time of selection, James believes the huge progress in a short time highlights what his twin is capable of given the right opportunities.
“Both criteria for selection for the Paris Paralympics were met by Daniel within eight months of picking up the sport, and only one month after having a running blade which he got in March,” said James.
“To anyone in or out of the know, this is huge potential for the future.
“Stage 5 is where our grievances lie. Daniel’s competitors have been involved in the sport for years, some 10 to 15-plus and in that time have kit sponsors, funding, are in the best environments to achieve with world class coaching, physio etc.
“Daniel has been doing the sport for eight months, has had a running blade for four months (his blade still needs work with the prosthesis, as it doesn’t fit properly to maximise his speed), he works a full-time job and trains in the evenings with no governing body funding, physio.
“He picks up his training gear and goes to the local track through all conditions, to achieve his dream.
“Daniel has the ability to go to the very top in this sport.
“His goals are to achieve medals at the World and European championships in the coming years leading up to LA 2028, where again, he wants to make the Paralympics team, and even come out on top.”
British Athletics and ParalympicsGB were approached for comment but neither had done so at the time of publishing.
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