Mark Colbourne MBE

Mark has been a keen athlete from a young age. After graduating from school he represented Wales in volleyball and competed in three British Championships. Unfortunately in May 2009 Mark had to do an emergency landing when his paragliding wing collapsed and folded in front of him. He plummeted 40ft to the ground, breaking his back in the fall and then went through 5 months of intense physiotherapy to learn to walk again.

With his natural passion for sport, Mark continued training and competed in the Welsh indoor adaptive rowing championships, while still working part time as a consultant in sales and management. In September 2009 Mark set himself a target of competing in his first para-cycling event and went on to win two gold medals at the Wales GB in Newport. Since then he became a guest rider for the GB Para-Cycling Team and having shown great form and progress, joined the squad in June 2011.

At his debut Paralympics, Mark won the gold medal in the pursuit and took silver home from the kilo and time trial events. His acheivements were acknowledged in the 2013 New Years Honours where he was awarded an MBE for his services to para-cycling.

In his spare time Mark likes to socialise with his friends and family, along with continuing his voluntary work for Cycle Challenge Wales. Mark describes himself as calm, determined and hard working. His training tips are: work hard, always rest and be patient and the gains will come.