Double Paralympic Champion and Strictly Come Dancing alumni, Jonnie Peacock sprinted into a Sainsbury’s store in Loughborough on Thursday to celebrate the supermarket’s partnership with ParalympicsGB and to warm-up Sainsbury’s customers and colleagues ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Peacock was at Sainsbury’s Green Close Lane store, near his Loughborough University training base, to thank colleagues and customers for their continued support of ParalympicsGB and commitment to positively changing perceptions around disability whilst encouraging healthier lifestyles.
Sainsbury’s became the first Paralympic-only partner in 2012 and has continued its commitment to ParalympicsGB through the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
With less than a year to go until the Games start on 25 August 2020, Peacock is joining ParalympicsGB team-mates Ali Jawad, Ellie Simmonds, David Smith and Lauren Steadman in visiting Sainsbury’s stores around the country to build excitement around ParalympicsGB ambitions in Tokyo.
Following his visit Peacock said:“I really enjoyed meeting everyone at my local Sainsbury’s store and sharing my excitement for Tokyo 2020 with less than a year-to-go . We really want to encourage everyone to be part of the journey and to get behind ParalympicsGB every step of the way to Tokyo.”
“I’ve worked with Sainsbury’s since 2013 and have been blown away by their commitment and enthusiasm to put Paralympic sport on a centre stage. The profile and excitement generated by ParalympicsGB’s partnership with a leading brand like Sainsbury’s has contributed to the dramatic growth in the nation’s support since 2012 and it’s important to keep that momentum going.”
Peacock has also recently attended a Sainsbury’s Active Kids Holiday Club in Cambridge to teach youngsters about Paralympic sports and to inspire the next generation to overcome challenges, follow their dreams and lead active lifestyles.
“The Active Kids holiday clubs are vital to encourage children to keep fit and active over the summer holiday. It was a pleasure to take part in some of the Paralympic sports and I loved taking on the kids. My own story and those of many Paralympians prove sport and an active lifestyle is possible regardless of disability and it’s fantastic to see Sainsbury’s inviting Paralympians to their Sainsbury’s Active Kids Holiday Clubs to help inspire the next generation through their partnership with the British Paralympic Association.”
After a year’s sabbatical in 2018, Peacock returned to competition last month with a 10.7 second win in T44 100m at the Anniversary Games and is looking to defend his Paralympic title when he runs in the T44 100m in Tokyo.
Peacock will be part of the largest and most competitive team Great Britain has ever presented at an overseas Paralympic Games, with around 260 selected athletes and a wider support team of 400 travelling to the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Mike Sharrock, Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association, said: “The success of our athletes has been the catalyst for a wide range of inspirational activity and positive social change. Sainsbury’s has been a hugely pro-active and influential partner in helping ParalympicsGB to accelerate that change and harnessing the power of sport to inspire a better world for disabled people.
“Our ambition is for ParalympicsGB to be the best prepared team at Tokyo 2020 and we are confident our athletes can once again provide countless moments to make the nation proud.”
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson added: “We’re extremely proud to support ParalympicsGB. At Sainsbury’s, our vision is to be the most inclusive retailer and our customers and colleagues really get behind the team and are inspired by our para-athletes.
“It has been fantastic to welcome sports stars like Jonnie Peacock to our stores and Active Kids Holiday Clubs, as we work together to inspire future generations.”
Tokyo 2020 starts on 25 August 2020 and will be the 16th Summer Paralympic Games and will be the second time the Games have been hosted by Tokyo – 1964 the other occasion.
In total, 537 events from 22 sports will be contested at the Games with Badminton and Taekwondo the new additions to the programme
Jonnie Peacock Biog:
Jonnie is the Double Paralympic, World & European T44 100m Champion. He sensationally won his first Paralympic title at the London 2012 Games during one of the best summers in British Athletics history. Jonnie then went on to successfully defended his title at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
Jonnie was only five years old when he contracted Meningitis, which killed the tissue in his right leg. This resulted in an amputation just below the knee. After a remarkable recovery, and with the fighting spirit which would eventually help him to become a world-class sprinter, Jonnie made a full recovery from the disease. Whilst having his prosthetic leg fitted in hospital, Jonnie was encouraged to take part in a Paralympic sports talent day.
After years of training and learning his trade at regional events, it was in May 2012 that Jonnie competed in his first international race at the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester. A month later he broke the World Record and on 6th September 2012 he won Gold, making it a year to remember.
In 2013, Jonnie was awarded with an MBE in the New Years Honours list for services to athletics.
After battling through injury in 2015 Jonnie returned to success in 2016. Jonnie began his fantastic season by winning the T44 100m final at the IPC Athletics European Championships in Grossetto and just a month prior to the Paralympic Games Jonnie recorded a lifetime best (10.68) and a British Record at the Loughborough EAP meeting. On the 9th September 2016 Jonnie became a double Paralympic Champion, defending his title and setting a new Paralympic Record (10.81) in the process.
Jonnie continued his unbelievable success into 2017 by winning GOLD in the World-Para Athletics Championships.
About J Sainsbury plc
Sainsbury’s commitment to helping customers live well for less has been at the heart of what we do since 1869. Today that means making our customers’ lives better and easier every day by offering great quality and service at fair prices across food, clothing, general merchandise and financial services, whenever and wherever they want to shop.
As our customers’ lives change, so will our business. Sainsbury’s acquired Argos and Habitat on 2 September 2016, creating one of the UK’s leading retailers. We have a growing online and digital business with fast, convenient delivery capability and a store network of 600 Sainsbury’s supermarkets, over 800 convenience stores and almost 900 Argos stores in both stand-alone and supermarket locations. The iconic Habitat furniture and home furnishings brand is available online and from 16 locations across the UK.
We acquired the Nectar loyalty program in February 2018, enabling us to know and reward our customers better.
Our vision is to be the most trusted retailer where people love to work and shop. We employ 178,000 colleagues who, together with our strong culture and values, are integral to achieving this vision and driving our success – now and in the future.
About the British Paralympic Association
The British Paralympic Association is the National Paralympic Committee for the UK, responsible for the promotion of the Paralympic movement in Great Britain and selecting, entering and funding the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Paralympic team.
ParalympicsGB is the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Paralympic Team competing at the summer and winter Paralympic Games. We know that the outstanding performances of our athletes have a powerful impact on the British public and can shift perceptions of disability in society, helping to inspire a better world for disabled people.
Our partners are tremendous supporters of the BPA and ParalympicsGB both through direct funds as well as their own fundraising activity. Further details are available at http://paralympics.org.uk/partners.
