"VAN" (Sports Desk - 24.05.2026) :: Nineteen retiring Paralympians made history on 22 May 2026 by being the first athletes to graduate from a seven-month long International Paralympic Committee (IPC) leadership course intended to give them the skills, confidence and networks needed to thrive in roles within the Paralympic Movement and beyond.
Designed to support retiring Paralympians transition from high performance sport to life beyond competition, the Para Athlete Professionals leadership course included both in-person and online learning sessions. Offered by the IPC’s Sport for Mobility Programme and made possible thanks to a grant agreement with the Toyota Mobility Foundation, the course aims to create a new generation of leaders and champions for change.
The first phase of the course took place in November 2025 at the IPC Campus in Bonn, Germany. It focused on key areas such as career transition, governance, pathways to influence, leadership development, and communication and advocacy.
Over the following months participants then completed several online learning courses covering subjects including financial literacy, strategic thinking, and advocacy. They also benefitted from the insights and experience of leaders in and outside the Paralympic Movement. This included talks from the IPC’s Vice President Leila Mota Marques PLY, inclusion activist and Paralympic champion Mpumelelo Mhlongo PLY, and former Minister for Sport, Government of Canada, Carla Qualtrough PLY.
The final phase of the course was held in-person at the IPC Campus between 18 to 22 May. The Class of 2026 took part in several training sessions that will benefit them in their future careers. This included public speaking, job interview skills, media training and building a social media presence to influence and advocate for persons with disabilities.
The course concluded with a graduation ceremony with messages delivered by IPC President Andrew Parsons and IPC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Mike Peters PLY.
IPC CEO Dr Mike Peters PLY said: “Through the IPC’s Para Athlete Professionals course, we want retiring athletes to know that they bring unique and highly-desired qualities to professional environments that sit outside elite competition. The lived experiences, skills and determination of these 19 Paralympians are among the greatest assets of the Paralympic Movement and beyond.
“We are deeply honoured and proud that the IPC has been able to play a role in helping shape the leaders of tomorrow. While we celebrate this important milestone today, we also recognise the need for the world to create meaningful opportunities for these leaders to excel beyond sport, in the professional sphere.
“We are confident they now have important tools and skills to succeed in life beyond competition.”
Two course participants, Irish Para archer Kerrie Leonard and Canadian track and field athlete Jason Dunkerley were selected by the group and spoke on behalf of participants about their experience of the course.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Kerrie Leonard said: “The Para Athletes Professional course has been truly transformative for me and the athletes who participated in it. The modules were especially valuable for those of us who hadn’t considered careers beyond sport.
“The course was a one-stop shop for athletes, who, in some cases, feel uncertain or lost, and helped us find direction and purpose in this new phase of our lives.”
Jason Dunkerley also spoke about his experience throughout the course and said: “Participating in the Para Athlete Professionals course has taught me that transition is not simply about leaving sport behind, it is about renewal, growth, and rediscovering purpose beyond competition. I have learned that my identity extends far beyond being an athlete, and that the skills we own as athletes – resilience, adaptability and leadership – can equip us to make a positive difference beyond the field of play.”
For the 2025/2026 cycle, over 80 applications were received and Paralympians from 13 different sports were selected. The Class of 2026 represents 17 countries, five continents, and features 12 women.
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