LJMU hosts first ever Para Pentathlon training day in the UK

25 Athletes from across the UK attended the first ever Para Laser Sport training event at LJMU’s Sport Building this week.

World Para Laser Run Championships

The 25 athletes, who range from age 12 to 55, and have a range of physical or mental impairments, were selected by the National Disability Organisation to attend the event in a bid to recruit athletes for the World Para Laser Run Championships, which will take place in Bath, this August.

The Training event

The session was led by Great Britian (GB) Pentathlon Coach, Iain Aberdeen; LJMU Sport Coaching Programme Leader and GB Pentathlon Coach, Dr Nicola Robinson and four LJMU Sport Coaching students Jena Williams, John Wylie, Sophie Coyne and Tom Howarth.

The Para Laser event is a two-disciplined event where athletes run/push and shoot, and the training day event, at LJMU, is part of a project commissioned by Pentathlon GB, the National Governing Body of the Sport Laser Run and Modern Pentathlon.

Great Britain Coach and LJMU Sport Coaching Programme Leader, Dr Nicola Robinson, said:

“This Para Laser sport training day is the first ever in the UK to be launched and aimed at anyone who has a physical or mental impairment. The event, which is supported by LJMU internal funding, is so important to showcase how inclusive laser sport is and how it can be adapted for all abilities.

“The training is looking to recruit athletes to compete in the World Para LaserRun Championships, in the already established five classifications set out by the UIPM (international pentathlon federation), in parallel to this we are also co-creating, with the athletes, an inclusive national laser sport event this summer for any para-athlete to have a go!

“Being part of this project means we are impacting local and national changes to the para-sports scene, plus our Sport Coaching students are directly involved in the delivery and success of the project. They all did an outstanding job on the day putting their creative sport coaching skills to the test with a diverse range of athletes.”