Paralympic Wheelchair Champion Honoured

Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft CBE has received an Honorary Doctor of Sport from Leeds Beckett University.

The award is in recognition of her outstanding achievements in sport, her contribution to disability sport and inclusion, and her ongoing collaboration with the university's Carnegie School of Sport.

Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Hannah is one of Britain's most successful Paralympic athletes. Competing in the T34 wheelchair racing classification, she has won nine Paralympic gold medals across four Paralympic Games: London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

These achievements sit alongside 19 World Championship titles and multiple European crowns.

Hannah made her international debut in 2011 and quickly established herself as a dominant force in wheelchair racing. She currently holds world records in the T34 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m events, cementing her status as one of the greatest para-athletes of her generation.

Beyond the track, Hannah has become a powerful advocate for disability sport and inclusion. She has used her platform to challenge perceptions of disability and inspire the next generation of athletes, while also building a successful broadcasting career through appearances on programmes including BBC Countryfile, The Great British Bake Off and Strictly Come Dancing.

Alongside her sporting success, Hannah has developed a close relationship with Leeds Beckett University through collaborative work with researchers and practitioners in the Carnegie School of Sport.

Working alongside academics and sport scientists, she has contributed to research and innovation aimed at improving performance support for para-athletes and advancing understanding within sports science.

"Leeds has always felt like a second home to me,” said Hannah.

“I've been part of the sporting community here for many years through Leeds City Athletics Club, and it's a city that has always welcomed and supported me.

"Leeds Beckett has played an important role in supporting my performance in recent years, and I've loved working alongside the sport science team to explore new ideas and approaches that can help all athletes continue to improve.”