We are delighted that Luke is part of our BRIT Ambassador family and championing the annual BRIT Challenge to support and improve young adult and student mental health and fitness throughout the UK. After losing both legs whilst serving in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, Luke has focussed on an elite athlete career. Initially competing for Great Britain with the British Para Sailing team, Luke went on to represent Great Britain with the British Athletics team. A former European Long Jump record holder, Luke was in the top 5 in the world and focused on being selected to represent Great Britain at the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Pre-Tokyo, Luke injured his shoulder while training, missed out on a place in the team and was then removed from the World Class Programme. Luke is taking it one day at a time, however is determined to be selected to represent Great Britain at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
“Having comes to terms with sustaining catastrophic injuries, working in support of veterans, and training and competing for Great Britain with young athletes, I know that many young adults suffer with mental health challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on all our lives, however I am mindful that it has compounding existing mental health difficulties faced by many young people, and those who are vulnerable, isolated or who live with disabilities and medical conditions.
Many young adults were unable to access the mental health support they needed over the past 18 months and their wellbeing must be looked after now, in order to avoid long-term effects on their mental health. Support from charities is vital to help improve young adult mental health and it is great to see the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) are inviting university and college teams taking part in the BRIT Challenge to raise funds for a second charity, alongside BRIT, to support local, regional and national charities.
The annual BRIT Challenge is offering a UK-wide opportunity for every university, college, specialist college and Students’ Union to enter teams and encourage their students and young adults to unite wherever they are (at home or on campus) and take part in an inspiring feelgood February fundraiser. The BRIT Challenge is a great way for young adults and students of all abilities to take part in an inclusive activity to improve mental health and fitness.
I am thrilled to be part of the BRIT Ambassador family and urge fellow Great Britain athletes to join me so that we can have a UK wide impact on improving young adult mental health and fitness, destigmatising mental health and championing equality, diversity and inclusion.
I look forward to encouraging and supporting students and staff at Activate Learning and the University of Sussex as they take on the BRIT Challenge”.
Luke Sinnott
Invictus Gold medallist and Great Britain Blade Runner and Long Jumper
Luke was educated at Rodborough Secondary School and Guildford College. Between 2000 and 2004, he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at the University of Sussex. After completing Officer Training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Luke commissioned into the Corps of Royal Engineers. For four years, Luke led troops in frontline units on various roles until his injury in November 2011. Following his Medical Evacuation back to the UK, Luke began a four year journey to recover from multiple catastrophic injuries, so he could “walk” back into civilian life.
Only a few months after losing his legs, Luke was back sailing a boat. As a keen sailor, Luke threw himself into a sailing career with the British Para Sailing team, training fulltime out of Weymouth while balancing his rehabilitation at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court. Luke competed in various international events in the 2.4mR and Sonar fleets, managing top finishes while representing Great Britain. This was the beginning of his journey to represent Great Britain at a Paralympic Games. Since 2011, Luke has been a Trustee and Pilot with Flying for Freedom (FFF). He is the first double above knee amputee to qualify as a flew wing pilot. Flying with no adaptations, Luke has become an expert in the world of disabled flight. While maintaining his pilot status, he also takes a leading role in the organisation that gave him his opportunity to be a pilot. Luke leads in the recruiting and training of all new applicants and has helped build FFF into a well-respected organisation.
Luke has been a Board Member of The Veterans Gateway (VG) since 2018. VG is a co-operative project amongst the big Service Charities, MOD and other departments of the British Government, geared up to provide information to the Veteran Community in one place to ensure they get to the right help first time,. Luke has been a member of the Steering Board Group since its conception, representing the veteran community. Luke also Chairs a group of veterans who represent different sections of the veteran community, helping him ensure he champions all veteran’s needs. Following Luke’s life changing injury, he soon took up Para Sport. He joined the British Athletics team as a Blade Runner and Long Jumper and quickly rose to international status, competing at the Invictus Games (winning silver in the 100 metres and gold in the 400 metres), Para Athletics World Championships and European Championships.
Luke, a previous holder of the European Long Jump record, was ranked in the top 5 in the world and a medal hopeful for the Great Britain team at the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
Pre-Tokyo, Luke injured his shoulder while training, missed out on a place in the team and was then removed from the World Class Programme. Luke is taking it one day at a time, however is determined to be selected to represent Great Britain at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
To find out more about Luke, please visit his website.
You can follow Luke on Twitter and Instagram.