We are delighted that Claire 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.
Claire is a five time Paralympian who won gold and silver at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, to add to her previous four bronze and two silver Paralympic Games medals. After transitioning to Paratriathlon in 2017, Claire became World Champion in the PTS5 classification in 2019. In 2021, Claire won bronze in the Paratriathlon at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo and retained her World Championship title.
“I am delighted to be part of the BRIT Ambassador family to support and improve young adult and student mental health and fitness in the UK.
As a former student at the University of Leeds and Northumbria University, and having spent years working with young athletes at the Youth Sport Trust, British swimming and British Triathlon, I know that so many young adults struggle with mental health. COVID-19 has compounded existing mental health challenges and increased feelings of isolation and loneliness. It has been particularly difficult for those young adults with disabilities, limited mobility and who are vulnerable. It is vital that these young adults receive help from charities and support services when they need it.
The British Inspiration Trust are breaking new ground by adopting a collaborative approach to unite the Charity, Education and Sport sectors through their annual BRIT Challenge in order to support as many students and young adults as possible throughout the UK. It’s great to see that BRIT are inviting teams taking part in the BRIT Challenge to choose a second charity to raise funds for, alongside BRIT, to support local, regional and national charities.
I urge my fellow retired and current Olympians, Paralympians and sports personalities to join our BRIT Ambassador family and unite to encourage universities, colleges and specialist colleges to enter teams in the BRIT Challenge. By sharing our lived experience, I hope we can inspire students to take part, destigmatise mental health and champion equality, diversity and inclusion. I would be thrilled to support students and staff at the University of Leeds and Northumbria University as they take on their BRIT Challenge.”
Claire Cashmore MBE
Five time Paralympian, Paralympic Gold medallist and Paratriathlon World Champion
Claire was born in Redditch, England and attended Hagley Catholic High School in Worcestershire. When Claire was 16 years old, she represented Great Britain at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, where she won two bronze medals. In 2006, Claire won her first international medal in the 100 metres breaststroke SB8 at the IPC Swimming World Championships in Durban. Claire represented Great Britain at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, where she won her second Paralympic bronze medal. Between 2008 and 2011, Claire completed her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Phonetics at the University of Leeds. During the 2009 season, Claire broke the European 200 metres Individual Medley record at the World Short-Course Championships in Rio. At her third Paralympic Games in London 2012, Claire won two silvers and a bronze. Claire claimed her first individual gold medal on the international stage, at her third IPC Swimming European Championships, in the 100 metres breaststroke SB8. In 2016, Claire represented Great Britain at her fourth Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She won gold in the 4 x 100 metres medley relay and also took silver in the 100 metres breaststroke SB8. Between 2016 and 2019, Claire completed her Master of Arts in Leadership and Management at Northumbria University. Claire was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours list for services to swimming. Claire then decided to transition into Paratriathlon. She was awarded a place on the UK Sport talent transfer programme and made her major international debut at the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Rotterdam where, despite crashing on the bike, still managed to finish 6th.
In 2018, Claire won gold in the Great Britain Paratriathlon National Championships and four consecutive medals at the Eton Dorney Paratriathlon World Cup, Franciacorta ITU World Paratriathlon Series, Tartu ETU Triathlon European Championships and the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Gold Coast. In 2019, Claire won silver at the Yokohama ITU World Paratriathlon Series, the Tokyo ITU Paratriathlon World Cup and the Valencia ETU Paratriathlon European Championships. That same year, Claire won gold at the Great Britain Paratriathlon National Championships, the Groupe Copley World Paratriathlon Series Montreal and the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Lausanne, where she became the ITU World Champion in the PTS5 classification.
In 2021, Claire won bronze medal in the Paratriathlon at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. She then went on to retain her World Championship title.
Claire has been an athlete mentor with the Youth Sport Trust for almost nine years. To read more about Para-Swimming, please read visit the British Swimming website. To read more about Paratriathlon in the UK, please visit the British Triathlon website. To read more about the World Paratriathlon, please visit the World Triathlon website.
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