Charismatic athlete who changed public perceptions of disability sport
The Paralympian Chris Hallam, who has died aged 50, was one of the most influential athletes in the development of disability sport. He was the first disabled athlete to receive widespread recognition for his athleticism rather than just his "courage" in overcoming perceived adversity. Chris only ever saw himself as an athlete and he realised the power of the media to change public perceptions.
At the time he began competing in the 1980s, the little coverage that existed was generally patronising and saw disabled people as "having a go". Chris had extremely forthright views on the management of sport and he stood up for what he believed to be right. On the track, he was known for his flowing blond hair, and an outrageous taste in Lycra body suits (most notably leopard prints).
Born in Derby, Chris spent some of his early years in Argentina, where his father, John, worked as an engineer for Balfour Beatty. The family were later based in Cwmbran, south Wales, where Chris attended Llantarnam school. He became a competitive swimmer, and aspired to represent Wales. At the age of 17, he broke his back in a motorcycle accident on the way to a training session. After rehabilitation he spent some time living and travelling in South Africa, before returning to the UK and becoming involved in wheelchair sport. His nickname was "Shades", due to the dark glasses he wore.
Chris competed for Great Britain at four Paralympic Games – Stoke Mandeville (1984), Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996) – and for Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland (1990) and Victoria (1994). In 1984, he won a gold medal for the 50m breast stroke, but it was on the track and road where he had the biggest impact. He won a bronze medal in the 400m in Seoul, and repeated this in the 100m in Barcelona. During his career, he held world records in the 100m and 200m.
He was probably best known for competing in the London Marathon, where he won the men's wheelchair event and set course records in 1985 and 1987. The event was then only recently established but Chris's charismatic personality almost demanded coverage. For me, watching the 1985 London Marathon was a seminal moment. The way Chris dominated the field and his outlandish style convinced me that wheelchair racing was the sport for me. Throughout my career, Chris offered honest and helpful advice and support. He was a loyal friend. Without him there wouldn't have been the opportunities for other athletes to be treated as such. He broke down so many attitudinal barriers around disability, but also set a standard for training and athletic performance.
He won the Great North Run four times between 1986 and 1990 and was also the national road-racing champion on several occasions. He twice pushed around Wales (1987 and 1997) with his training partner John Harris, to raise money for a purpose-built wheelchair-accessible training centre at Cyncoed in Cardiff. Both resulted in an increased profile for Welsh disabled athletes.
Chris was a perfectionist and he endlessly researched sports science and psychology, as he tried to find new ways to improve his performance. His know- ledge of other athletes' performances was encyclopedic. As as administrator, he organised several national events, and he was chairman of the British Wheelchair Racing Association between 1990 and 1992.
In his coaching career, he worked with successful British athletes including Rose Hill, the British record-holder for the marathon, and Dan Lucker, who became world junior champion. He held many coaching and mentoring positions and at the 2006 World Championships he was head wheelchair racing coach for the Great Britain team.
In retirement from his competitive career, Chris returned to education and studied for an undergraduate degree and MBA at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (now Cardiff Metropolitan University), where he also worked with a number of younger athletes. He was made an MBE in the 1989 New Year's honours.
Although he had a successful kidney transplant in 1999 (with a living donation from his father), in later years he experienced ill health. He was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2011 and received chemotherapy.
He is survived by his parents, John and Anne, and his sister, Julie.
• Christopher Alexander Hallam, athlete, born 31 December 1962; died 16 August 2013