- Nissan GB’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Ambassador and Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead MBE completed his 100th marathon at TCS New York City Marathon
- Richard has championed inclusivity in running for years, working with Nissan as part of its long-term CSR initiative the Possibilities Project to break down barriers in sport for people with disabilities
- Richard has been supported on his marathon journey by a modified Nissan Ariya NISMO, adapted by Nissan engineers to accommodate his running prosthetics and enable charging on the go
Richard Whitehead MBE, Paralympic gold medallist, world-record holder, and Nissan GB’s diversity and inclusion ambassador, crossed the finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon to mark a monumental milestone, the 100th marathon of his extraordinary career.
More than two decades ago, Richard set foot on the streets of New York for his very first marathon, having never run a mile before. That race ignited a passion that would carry him across finish lines around the globe. In January 2025, Richard announced an ambitious new challenge, to complete 20 marathons across the world in a single year. Fittingly, this journey came full circle in New York, the city where it all began.
Reflecting on the achievement, Richard shared:
“It’s such an incredible feeling to have completed my 100th marathon. I’m proud of the miles I’ve run, but even prouder of the impact my journey has, showing people that with the right support and barriers removed, anything is possible.
I know the power of visibility, and I’ve seen how someone like me who lives with a very physical disability, can inspire others to believe in their own potential.”
Richard’s feat is unprecedented: no double amputee has ever completed 100 marathons. Already the fastest amputee marathon runner in the world, this latest accomplishment adds another world record to his name.
“I hope everything I do embodies courage and inclusion,” he said. “I want to proudly advocate for people living with disabilities and inspire others to believe that they too can achieve the extraordinary.”
Richard was supported throughout his training with the Ariya NISMO he recently upgraded to, specially adapted by Nissan engineers to be the perfect training vehicle throughout the mammoth challenge he undertook. The modifications include:
- a removable storage system for his Össur running prosthetics
- a unique hidden swing-out seat to sit on while changing his prosthetics over before and after a session
- small quick-release magnetic chargers in the drivers’ seat, allowing Richard to keep the ‘bionic knees’ of his Össur walking prosthetics topped up while he drives
The support vehicle has been with Richard every mile of the journey, helping him make the marginal gains that led not just to his impressive 100 marathon milestone, but also setting the Guinness World Record for a double amputee along the way at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, breaking his own previous record set just six months prior at the TCS London Marathon.
Throughout his career, Richard has used sport as a platform to break down barriers, promote wellbeing, build community, and drive social change. His unwavering energy and optimism continue to motivate people of all ages and abilities.
In recent years, Richard has worked with Nissan to make sport more inclusive as part of the Nissan Possibilities Project. He’s been involved in pioneering initiatives such as the Beneficiaries Project, where Nissan and the Richard Whitehead Foundation have worked together to provide running prosthetics to young amputees. His work with the Nissan Possibilities Project has also included the introduction of the Supported Runner Project, launched at the AJ Bell Great North Run in 2023, pairing disabled people with volunteers to increase accessibility at mass running events.
“I see my disability as a resource, not a hindrance,” Richard added. “I want to help others see that they can make a difference, and that everyone has a gift to nurture and a story worth telling.”
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Note to Editors
Richard’s Marathons during 2025
1 – Dubai Marathon – 12 January
2 – Miami Marathon – 2 February
3 – Malta Marathon – 23 February
4 – Original Marathon London – 8 March
5 – Rome Marathon – 16 March
6 – Milan Marathon – 6 April
7 – Paris Marathon – 13 April
8 – Boston Marathon – 21 April
9 – London Marathon – 27 April
10 – Vancouver Marathon – 4 May
11 – Norway Marathon – 21 June
12 – Victoria Falls Marathon – 6 July
13 – Isle of Man Marathon – 10 August
14 - Reykjavik Marathon - 24 August
15 – Sydney Marathon – 31 August
16 – Berlin Marathon – 21 September
17 – Chicago Marathon – 12 October
18 - Tirana Marathon – 19 October
19 - Marine Corp Washington Marathon - 26 October
20 - New York Marathon – 2 November
About Nissan in the UK
Designed, engineered, built and loved by Britain: Nissan employs around 7,000 people across the UK including at its design centre in Paddington, London, and its R&D engineering centre in Cranfield. Sunderland is home to the UK’s biggest single car plant, which builds two of the nation’s best-selling cars – the Juke and Qashqai.
These models will soon be joined by the European version of the new LEAF, which will be manufactured in Sunderland as part of Nissan’s EV36Zero project.
EV36Zero is Nissan’s vision for the future of sustainable manufacturing – a blueprint that will transform Sunderland Plant into a flagship EV hub, bringing together electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production. This is part of Nissan’s goal to become a truly sustainable company and usher in a cleaner, safer and more inclusive world.
Designed, engineered and built in Britain.
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