The Carpet Runners Runner: Zac Shaw To Compete in 2018 Commonwealth Games

It’s a proud week for the runrug.com family this week, as our very own Zac Shaw prepares to compete for Team GB at this year’s Commonwealth Games.

Zac is a para-athlete sprinter specialising in the 100 and 200 metre sprints, with his first event rapidly approaching on Thursday 12th April – yikes! Zac lives with a rare eye condition  called Stargardt’s Disease, which restricts his central vision to less than 10%, though leaving his peripheral vision largely unaffected.

After being diagnosed with this condition at just 13 years old, Zac was determined to rise above this invisible disability and become a successful athlete regardless of his visual impairment. He was driven to the world of Para Sport after he noticed how difficult it was for him to keep up with his sighted classmates at school. Here he would have the chance to compete against people with the same disabilities as him, creating a level playing field for equal opportunities at success. And, as it turns out, Zac is not too shabby at this sprinting lark.

Zac’s Facts

PROFILE

• Height: 175cm
• Weight: 70kg
• Age: 22

PERSONAL BEST

• 100 Metre Sprint – 11.21 seconds
  (Doha, QAT – Oct 2015)
• 200 Metre Sprint – 22.88 seconds
  (Doha, QAT – Oct 2015)

MEDALS TO DATE

Gold

2016 200M IPC Grand Prix Dubai

2016 100M BUCS University Championships

2016 100M Barcelona Kern Pharma – Sauleda

Silver

2014 UK School Games 100M

2014 UK School Games 200M

2016 IPC Grand Prix Dubai 200M

Bronze

2015 IPC Grand Prix Berlin 100M

In addition to his rigorous training regime, Zac is always looking for ways to inspire the next generation of sporting talent through fundraising activities and charity events. In 2016, Zac took part in the annual Colour Run – along with three of his big brothers here at runrug.com – to raise money for their local Grimsby charity, Inspire TCI, which strives to support budding sporting talent in the area. This lad never stops, he never gives up and he will never let his disability stop him from achieving his dreams.

Catch him (if you can) in the men’s T12 100m sprint on Thursday 12th at 2:50am UK time on BBC 1 – the games are being held in Australia – or catch up on the Red Button service. And, if he makes it to the final, you can watch him in action live at 11.20am the same day.

Go Zac!