As IPC celebrates 25th anniversary and top sporting moments during that time, governing body’s president Sir Philip Craven highlights sprinter’s 100m victory

IPC president Sir Philip Craven has described Jonnie Peacock’s T44 100m victory at the London 2012 Paralympic Games as “one of the best sporting moments ever” as the governing body celebrates its 25th anniversary.

In the run-up to the International Paralympic Committee’s silver jubilee, fans were asked to share their favourite para-sporting moments since the global governing body was formed on September 22, 1989. From the nominations, the IPC governing board selected its top 25, which have been revealed via a dedicated website - www.ipc25.com. The London 2012 Paralympics came out on top, while Peacock’s performance was no.4 overall and the most highly rated single performance, with the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games and the Sydney 2000 Paralympics also included in the top five.

“If I was to pick one single sporting moment, it would definitely have to be Jonnie Peacock’s 100m T44 win at London 2012,” said Craven, who is serving his fourth and final term as IPC president.

“To hear 80,000 people chant one athlete’s name was extraordinary. But to see him silence the crowd, cope with the pressure and storm to gold less than 11 seconds later was unbelievable. It wasn’t just a great Paralympic moment but one of the best sporting moments ever.”

He added: “Although the IPC was not responsible for the Barcelona 1992 Games, they are the ones I think that got everything moving and set us on the correct path for future years. They were transformational for the whole Paralympic Movement, attracting massive crowds and benefiting from live TV coverage for the first time ever.

“As a Brit, I’m particularly proud of what London 2012 delivered. They were the best Paralympic Games on so many levels and I was delighted that Sochi 2014 built on that success with equally successful winter Games earlier this year.”

Single-leg amputee sprinter Peacock clocked a Paralympic record of 10.90 when taking the 100m title two years ago. Prior to that his best result at a major international event had been a sixth-place finish at the 2011 World Championships, though he had made his intentions clear in the run-up to the Games, clocking a what was then world record 10.85 aged just 19. That Paralympic final also ignited a fierce rivalry between the Briton and USA’s silver medallist Richard Browne, who has since lowered the T44 world record to 10.75.

It was in D sseldorf, Germany, in 1989 that the IPC was formed as the global governing body for the Paralympic movement under the stewardship of founding President Dr. Robert Steadward.

“In the last 25 years the IPC has been transformed from a disability organisation into one of world’s most respected international sporting bodies,” commented Craven, himself a five-time Paralympian having represented Great Britain at wheelchair basketball, who replaced Steadward as IPC president in 2001.

“We have developed an enviable track record for staging spectacular sporting events and increasing participation together with our members around the world. We should be really proud of our achievements.”

A full list of the top 25 moments can be found at www.ipc25.com

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