Suffolk athlete overcomes health challenges to represent his county in national games

22-year-old Hamish Crawford will represent Suffolk at the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games 2026 in Birmingham.

The athlete from Kesgrave will compete in shotput, and the 50m running and 100m relay races in the iconic Alexander Stadium, home to the 2026 European Athletics Championships and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

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.

Hamish – who studies at One Sixth Form College - hopes to follow the path of his Paralympic heroes, including David Weir and Hannah Crockroft, after watching them compete in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. He said: “I always go back to that moment and think if they can do it, I can do it.”

Hamish was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and uses a walker for his running events. He started athletics 11 years ago, and now trains with the Orwell Panthers – an inclusive club for athletes with disabilities based in Ipswich.

Hamish has faced significant challenges on his journey. He said: “Over the years, I’ve had operations on my legs to help with my cerebral palsy. The operations knocked my confidence, and I was saying to my coaches I really want to get back in to running, and they said it was going to take time. But I managed to do it.”

Despite this, he has not been deterred, and has since competed at the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games 2017 in Sheffield.

Ahead of this year’s games, taking place from 26th-30th August, Hamish said: “I’m excited and a little bit nervous, obviously, because that’s natural. I’m really energized and looking forward to it.”

“They’ve had the European championships in Birmingham, so all the professionals get to use that facility. It’s crazy that I’ll be on the same track as professional athletes.”

On representing Suffolk, Hamish said: “It’s exciting because you don’t really get the opportunity to do it. This is a national stadium where you’ve got top athletes and it’s like wow; I’m going to be there from Suffolk.

“I just want to enjoy it. It's just all about taking part and I just want to do my best and make myself proud and be like, I've just been on the top track of the European Championships.”

Hamish will start the second year of his Level 3 Personal Trainer course at One Sixth Form College in September.

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!”