We are delighted that Danny is part of our BRIT Ambassador family to support and improve young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK. Danny is a British former athlete who specialised in the 400 and 800 metres. He is a former Paralympic World Record holder and won gold at the Paralympic Games, World Championships and European Championships. Danny is a renowned keynote speaker and event host, a published author, TV presenter, owner of 1404 Performance a high-performance coaching business, and a personal performance and career development coach.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the BRIT Ambassador family to help support and improve young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK.
As BRIT Ambassadors, we are committed to using our lived experience, and profiles, to raise awareness of the annual inclusive BRIT Challenge and encourage participation. By visiting a university and/or college of our choice during the month of February, we hope to enthuse, inspire and thank students and staff for taking part. We also hope to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and champion disability inclusion; promoting the annual BRIT Challenge so that students and staff of all abilities are aware of the opportunity to be part of their team’s efforts.
The BRIT Challenge is a great opportunity for students and young adults at every UK university, college, specialist college and Students’ Union to take part in a feel-good February fundraiser. At a time when we need to do more to support young adult mental health, this is the perfect UK-wide event for universities and colleges to embrace and choose a second charity to raise funds for, alongside BRIT, to support local, regional and national charities.
I hope that my fellow current and retired Olympians, Paralympians and sports personalities will join our BRIT Ambassador family to champion the BRIT Challenge and unite in support of young adult mental health. I look forward to encouraging students and staff at the University of East London and the University of Essex to take on the BRIT Challenge”.
Danny Crates Paralympic, World and European Champion
Before Danny’s accident in 1994, he was representing both Essex and the Eastern Counties of England in rugby. Within a year of losing his right arm in a car crash, Danny was back playing full contact rugby and then qualified as a scuba diving instructor, working on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, before enjoying a stint as a shark display diver. He then focussed on athletics and during his glittering 12 year career in the T46 (arm amputee) events, Danny represented Great Britain at the Paralympic Games, Paralympic World Cup, World Championships and European Championships. In 2000, Danny won bronze in the 400 metres at the Summer Paralympics in Sydney. After Sydney, he switched from the 400 metres to the 800 metres, however still managed to win gold running the 400 metres at the 2001 European Championships. Danny won gold in the 800 metres at the 2003 European Championships and gold at the 2003 World Indoor Championships. In 2004, Danny won gold in the 800 metres at the inaugural Paralympic World Cup in Manchester and won gold in the 800 metres at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens. In 2008, Danny was selected as flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Beijing and led our the Paralympic GB Team. Danny retired from athletics in July 2009 and during his career he won 11 gold medals and 1 bronze. Danny has become a leading media presenter including Channel 4’s BAFTA-winning coverage of the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the 2017 BDO World Darts Championships and as the morning presenter on the World Para Athletics Championships in London. He also presents his own BBC Radio show. He has also published his autobiography “Danny Boy” which was chosen as the Evening Standard top Sports Book of the Year 2012 and in 2015, Danny was a quarter finalist in Celebrity MasterChef. Simply put, Danny is one of life’s natural characters and will speak openly and from the heart. Danny shares his experiences readily with others – from school children to corporate executives – engaging any audience with his easy-going nature and indefatigable optimism. For more information on Danny and his remarkable career, please visit his website. For more information on Danny’s Performance Coaching, that specialises in human performance, leadership coaching and team development, please visit the 1404 Performance website. You can follow Danny on Instagram and Twitter.
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