Paralympic glory
posted on 28-Jun-2011
Paratriathlon champion Jimmy Goddard, the son of Mike Goddard, past chairman of the British Franchise Association and founder of lettings and property management franchise Belvoir, has received £5,000 from Lloyds TSB Commercial to train for his bid to qualify for Rio 2016.
Former commando Jimmy 33, of Bracknell, suffered a spinal cord injury in a rock climbing accident in 2004, which left him paralysed and a wheelchair user.
After becoming the first successful paraplegic to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro unaided in 2006, and with a string of paratriathlon medals already under his belt, including winning gold at the 2009 British Championships and silver at the 2009 European Championships, Jimmy has his eyes set on Paralympic glory in Rio, five years from now, when the discipline should be a medal sport for the first time.
The race consists of a 750-metre swim followed by a 20-kilometre handcycle before a five-kilometre wheelchair sprint to the finish line.
Jimmy said: "I am really delighted to gain Lloyds TSB Commercial as a major sponsor. The funding will enable me to compete regularly on the international stage this summer and at the Paratriathlon World Championships in Beijing in September.
Richard Holden, head of franchising at Lloyds TSB Commercial, said: "Lloyds TSB is an official partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and through our Local Heroes programme we have supported many promising athletes in the build up to next year's Games.
"Jimmy Goddard is an inspirational and talented young man and when we heard about his plans to represent Great Britain at the Rio Paralympics in 2016 we were compelled to help. Our sponsorship will ensure Jimmy can train and compete without financial worries and he is free to concentrate on achieving his own personal goals."
