Star swimmer Alice the face of new Paralympics campaign

WORLD record holder and multiple gold medal winner Alice Tai has been signed by Papa John’s to be the face of a campaign aimed at raising £250,000 for ParalympicsGB.

Alice, who grew up in New Milton, made her Paralympics debut in Rio where she won gold and bronze. Since then she has added a raft of European, world and Commonwealth gold medals and records to her name.

The ‘We Are Limitless’ campaign was launched by the pizza chain at the end of August. It will also highlight the challenges each athlete ambassador has overcome in a bid to inspire Papa John’s staff and customers. It will last until 2021 while the team prepares for the rescheduled Paralympics next summer in Tokyo.

Alice, who learnt to swim as a member of the New Milton Seagulls Swimming Club, told the A&T: “Having Papa John’s team up with ParalympicsGB in the lead-up to the Tokyo Games is incredible. With sponsors like Papa John’s, the Paralympic movement can continue to grow and inspire those with and without disabilities to try new things and push their limits.”

Last year, Alice became the first para-swimmer to win the British Swimming Athlete of the Year crown after a haul of seven gold medals and breaking multiple world records at the World Para Swimming Championships.

Alice added: “I have always been passionate about increasing the exposure around the Paralympic Games and athletes, so this partnership with Papa John’s is something I am really excited to be a part of.”

The 21-year-old will be joined on the campaign by Paralympics legend David Weir, a six-time gold medalist and eight-time winner of the London Marathon, and Grand Slam tennis champion Alfie Hewett who won two silver medals in Rio 2016.

Mike Sharrock, chief executive of ParalympicsGB, added: “We are delighted to launch this exciting new fundraising partnership on the day the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games was originally scheduled to begin.

“The delay has presented us with challenges and opportunities, and we are confident with the support of the British public our talented ParalympicsGB athletes can inspire and unite the nation once again with their performances in Tokyo.”

For more information or to donate visit papajohns.co.uk/paralympicsgb