Mickey Bushell MBE

Mickey Bushell MBE

Mickey Bushell was playing dodge ball on the day that Birchfield Paralympian Debbie Brennan-Johnson spotted him and suggested that he tried wheelchair racing. Like Debbie, he had grown up in Telford in Shropshire.  He took up the sport at age 11, in 2001, joined Birchfield Harriers, and has been competing in the British team since he was 15 years old in the T23 100m and 200m.

When he was born, his parents were told that his chances of being able to sit up or move on his own were very slim. Although he got his first wheelchair when he was two, he discovered how to walk on his arms, which took enormous stamina and strength. He was also good at canoeing, rock-climbing and body-boarding whilst at school. This strength has been crucial to his success.

Success came quickly; when he was 14 a Birchfield Harriers report on a meeting in Blackpool reads: “Mickey struck 3 golds in the 100m, 200m and 400m races. He also established new National under- 15 age group records for 200m and 400m, at a meeting which attracted 370 athletes from all over Britain.”

Since then, the sport has taken Mickey all over the world. In 2008 in Beijing he won silver in the 100m race and won 100m gold at the 2011 Athletics World Championships in New Zealand, before setting a Paralympic record of 14.75 seconds when he won in London in 2012.

In London, he was inspired in the 100m by David Weir’s victory in the 5,000m. He told The Independent: “Last night I watched Dave Weir and as he crossed the line I was bouncing off the walls in my room. I didn’t know what to do…He’s been a massive influence – just as a team-mate, he’s been there for me..He’s a fantastic guy, a great role model to look up to”. He also appreciated the London 2012 crowd, telling Ade Adepitan, in an interview at a Lords Taverners’ dinner, “the British public can shout a lot, lot better than the Chinese”

He followed he 100m gold with a European record in both the heats and final of the T53 200m, although he just missed out on the bronze medal. In 2013 he has won silver at the IPC Athletics World Championships at 100m, but is currently nursing a shoulder injury.

Mickey was supplied with his first racing wheelchair by “Get Kids Going” and raced in that chair in Beijing in 2008, as well as in his world-record setting 100m race in 2009.The Lords Taverners have also supported the purchase of his chairs. This support is invaluable for wheelchair athletes; even in 2002 a carbon-fibre wheelchair could cost over £3,000. Discussing wheelchairs with Ade Adepitan at the Golden legacy Award Lunch in 2012 Mickey said: “It makes all the difference; it gives you the best chance of success.”