Suffolk athlete has his sights set on gold in Special Olympic Games
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Alfie Glanville, 22, from Stowmarket, will represent Suffolk at the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games 2026 in Birmingham.
The athlete will compete in the 100m and 200m races on Friday 28th August.
More than 1,200 athletes across the UK compete in the Special Olympics National Games, which are hosted by the charity Special Olympics GB. The non-profit provides opportunities for adults and children with disabilities.
Alfie has autism, and he developed a love for running at primary school. He has since competed nationally across the UK, including in Norwich, Birmingham, and Colchester.
On representing his county, Alfie said: “It felt unexpected but brilliant. I’m half excited and also half nervous about the event.”
Alfie trains with the Ipswich Harriers and the Orwell Panthers - an inclusive club for athletes with disabilities based in Ipswich. He has achieved impressive personal bests: 11.9 seconds in the 100m, and 24.5 seconds in the 200m.
While the heatwave has made training difficult, Alfie has his sights set on the podium. He said: “I’ll try and aim for first, or at least the top three. I always just try and be myself. My aim is just to try and do my very best.
“I’m going with my mum, my dad, my brother, my grandparents, and my girlfriend. I always say I’m trying to win it just for her.”
In terms of the future, Alfie said: “I want to keep up my athletics, and my aim is to just keep getting better and better. I’m UK-based, but it would be nice to go abroad and compete internationally.”
Alfie recently completed his Supported Internship with One Sixth Form College, where he also studied Sport for two years prior.
The athlete said, “The biggest highlight of my time at college was the Celebration of Achievement awards ceremony.” Alfie was awarded the Outstanding Young Leader accolade at the annual event hosted by Eastern Education Group.
Josh Curry, a Supported Learning teacher at the College, said: “We are incredibly proud of our One Sixth Form College students competing in the Special Olympics National Games in Birmingham. This is a fantastic achievement, and their success will bring great pride to our whole college community. Most importantly, they are inspiring and advocating for students with special educational needs, showing that with opportunity, determination, and belief, anything is possible. We wish them the very best of luck!”
Alfie now works at Cerebrum Systems in Ipswich, where he helps with reception and social media.
