Superhero Sunday: The USA’s Raymond Martin

The USA’s multiple Paralympic and world champion Raymond Martin reveals his inspirations for this week’s #Superhero Sunday.

The 21-year-old wheelchair racer, who competes in the T52 class, has already clinched one global title this year - winning marathon gold in London back in April.

Two years ago at the IPC Athletics World Championships in France, Martin became the first athlete to win five gold medals from five events, winning the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m T52.

Now with just weeks to go before the track and field action begins at this year’s IPC Athletics World Championships in Qatar, Martin tells us his heroes:

1. Stephen Hawking (Theoretical physicist and cosmologist)

He’s a phenomenal thinker of our time and he disproves this notion that physical disability inherently comes along with cognitive disability. He is an amazing physicist.

2. My parents, Daniel and April

My parents are great people, and my mum is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. My dad is just one of the best men I know. He’s honest, he’s a hard worker, he has had the same job for 25 years – day in, day out with only two or three sick days in the span of 25 years. They are just great people to look up to.

3. Amanda McGrory (US 2008 Paralympic gold medallist - 5,000m T54; successful marathon racer)

I met her a couple of years ago shortly before Lyon and she’s just a great person and great fun. She’s proven time and time again that she’s a great friend, she’s a very smart person and I appreciate that. She’s also a great racer and has been doing it for years.