Naga Naresh Karutura : A fighter( He has no legs) from the banks of Godavari to Google

Naga Naresh Karutura has just passed out of IIT Madras in Computer Science and has joined Google in Bangalore. You may ask, what's so special about this 21-year-old when there are hundreds of students passing out from various IITs and joining big companies like Google?

Read why Naresh is special and what makes him feel that he is lucky.

Ever smiling, optimistic and full of spirit; that is Naresh. He says, "God has always been planning things for me. That is why I feel I am lucky."

Childhood in a village
I spent the first seven years of my life in Teeparru, a small village in Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of the river Godavari. My father Prasad was a lorry driver and my mother Kumari, a house wife. Though they were illiterate, my parents instilled in me and my elder sister (Sirisha) the importance of studying.

Looking back, one thing that surprises me now is the way my father taught me when I was in the 1st and 2nd standards. My father would ask me questions from the text book, and I would answer them. At that time, I didn't know he could not read or write but to make me happy, he helped me in my studies! Another memory that doesn't go away is the floods in the village and how I was carried on top of a buffalo by my uncle. I also remember plucking fruits from a tree that was full of thorns.

I used to be very naughty, running around and playing all the time with my friends. I used to get a lot of scolding for disturbing the elders who slept in the afternoon. The moment they started scolding, I would run away to the fields! I also remember finishing my school work fast in class and sleeping on the teacher's lap!

January 11, 1993, the fateful day
On the January 11, 1993 when we had the sankranti holidays, my mother took my sister and me to a nearby village for a family function. From there we were to go with our grandmother to our native place. But my grandmother did not come there. As there were no buses that day, my mother took a lift in my father's friend's lorry. As there were many people in the lorry, he made me sit next to him, close to the door.

It was my fault; I fiddled with the door latch and it opened wide throwing me out. As I fell, my legs got cut by the iron rods protruding from the lorry. Nothing happened to me except scratches on my legs. The accident had happened just in front of a big private hospital but they refused to treat me saying it was an accident case. Then a police constable who was passing by took us to a government hospital.

First I underwent an operation as my small intestine got twisted. The doctors also bandaged my legs. I was there for a week. When the doctors found that gangrene had developed and it had reached up to my knees, they asked my father to take me to a district hospital. There, the doctors scolded my parents a lot for neglecting the wounds and allowing the gangrene to develop. But what could my ignorant parents do? 

In no time, both my legs were amputated up to the hips. I remember waking up and asking my mother, where are my legs? I also remember that my mother cried when I asked the question. I was in the hospital for three months. 

Life without legs
I don't think my life changed dramatically after I lost both my legs. Because all at home were doting on me, I was enjoying all the attention rather than pitying myself. I was happy that I got a lot of fruits and biscuits.

The day I reached my village, my house was flooded with curious people; all of them wanted to know how a boy without legs looked. But I was not bothered; I was happy to see so many of them coming to see me, especially my friends! All my friends saw to it that I was part of all the games they played; they carried me everywhere. 

God's hand
I believe in God. I believe in destiny. I feel he plans everything for you. If not for the accident, we would not have moved from the village to Tanuku, a town. There I joined a missionary school, and my father built a house next to the school. Till the tenth standard, I studied in that school.

If I had continued in Teeparu, I may not have studied after the 10th. I may have started working as a farmer or someone like that after my studies. I am sure God had other plans for me.

My sister, my friend
When the school was about to reopen, my parents moved from Teeparu to Tanuku, a town, and admitted both of us in a Missionary school. They decided to put my sister also in the same class though she is two years older. They thought she could take care of me if both of us were in the same class. My sister never complained.

She would be there for everything. Many of my friends used to tell me, you are so lucky to have such a loving sister. There are many who do not care for their siblings. She carried me in the school for a few years and after a while, my friends took over the task. When I got the tricycle, my sister used to push me around in the school.

My life, I would say, was normal, as everyone treated me like a normal kid. I never wallowed in self-pity. I was a happy boy and competed with others to be on top and the others also looked at me as a competitor.

Inspiration
I was inspired by two people when in school; my Maths teacher Pramod Lal who encouraged me to participate in various local talent tests, and a brilliant boy called Chowdhary, who was my senior.

When I came to know that he had joined Gowtham Junior College to prepare for IIT-JEE, it became my dream too. I was school first in 10th scoring 542/600. Because I topped in the state exams, Gowtham Junior College waived the fee for me. Pramod Sir's recommendation also helped. The fee was around Rs 50,000 per year, which my parents could never afford. 


Moving to a residential school
Living in a residential school was a big change for me because till then my life centred around home and school and I had my parents and sister to take care of all my needs. It was the first time that I was interacting with society. It took one year for me to adjust to the new life.

There, my inspiration was a boy called K K S Bhaskar who was in the top 10 in IIT-JEE exams. He used to come to our school to encourage us. Though my parents didn't know anything about Gowtham Junior School or IIT, they always saw to it that I was encouraged in whatever I wanted to do. If the results were good, they would praise me to the skies and if bad, they would try to see something good in that. They did not want me to feel bad.

They are such wonderful supportive parents.

Life at IIT- Madras
Though my overall rank in the IIT-JEE was not that great (992), I was 4th in the physically handicapped category. So, I joined IIT, Madras to study Computer Science.

Here, my role model was Karthik who was also my senior in school. I looked up to him during my years at IIT- Madras. He had asked for attached bathrooms for those with special needs before I came here itself. So, when I came here, the room had attached bath. He used to help me and guide me a lot when I was here.

I evolved as a person in these four years, both academically and personally. It has been a great experience studying here. The people I was interacting with were so brilliant that I felt privileged to sit along with them in the class. Just by speaking to my lab mates, I gained a lot.

Words are inadequate to express my gratitude to Prof Pandurangan and all my lab mates; all were simply great. I was sent to Boston along with four others for our internship by Prof Pandurangan. It was a great experience.

Joining Google R&D
I did not want to pursue PhD as I wanted my parents to take rest now. 
Morgan Stanley selected me first but I preferred Google because I wanted to work in pure computer science, algorithms and game theory. 

I am lucky
Do you know why I say I am lucky?

I get help from total strangers without me asking for it. Once after my second year at IIT, I with some of my friends was travelling in a train for a conference. We met a kind gentleman called Sundar in the train, and he has been taking care of my hostel fees from then on.

I have to mention about Jaipur foot. I had Jaipur foot when I was in 3rd standard. After two years, I stopped using them. As I had almost no stems on my legs, it was very tough to tie them to the body. I found walking with Jaipur foot very, very slow. Sitting also was a problem. I found my tricycle faster because I am one guy who wants to do things faster.

One great thing about the hospital is, they don't think their role ends by just fixing the Jaipur foot; they arrange for livelihood for all. They asked me what help I needed from them. I told them at that time, if I got into an IIT, I needed financial help from them. So, from the day I joined IIT, Madras, my fees were taken care of by them. So, my education at the IIT was never a burden on my parents and they could take care of my sister's Nursing studies. 

Surprise awaited me at IIT
After my first year, when I went home, two things happened here at the Institute without my knowledge. 

I got a letter from my department that they had arranged a lift and ramps at the department for me. It also said that if I came a bit early and checked whether it met with my requirements, it would be good.

Second surprise was, the Dean, Prof Idichandy and the Students General Secretary, Prasad had located a place that sold powered wheel chairs. The cost was Rs 55,000. What they did was, they did not buy the wheel chair; they gave me the money so that the wheel chair belonged to me and not the institute.

My life changed after that. I felt free and independent. That's why I say I am lucky. God has planned things for me and takes care of me at every step.

The world is full of good people
I also feel if you are motivated and show some initiative, people around you will always help you. I also feel there are more good people in society than bad ones. I want all those who read this to feel that if Naresh can achieve something in life, you can too.

 

Deleted text from the introduction part : 

Naresh is special. His parents are illiterate. He has no legs and moves around in his powered wheel chair. (In fact, when I could not locate his lab, he told me over the mobile phone, 'I will come and pick you up'. And in no time, he was there to guide me)

Source : rediff.com

ഞങ്ങളും ജീവിക്കട്ടെ ..

എല്ലാം മറന്നു കുതിച്ചോടും

നിങ്ങളെല്ലാം കാലത്തിനോടൊപ്പം 

കടമകളൊക്കെ കടമ്പകളായി   

വന്നു നീര്‍മിഴിനിറക്കുന്നു 

വേപഥുതു തൂകി വിധിയെ പഴിച്ച്

ഒടുക്കുന്നു ജീവിതമത്രയും 

ചരിക്കാനാവാതെ ചിരിതൂകി  

വിരക്തമാവാത്ത മനസ്സിന്‍ ബലത്തോടു

ജന്മ  പാപങ്ങളെ ഒക്കെ മറന്നങ്ങു 

ഇഴഞ്ഞു നീങ്ങുന്നു വായിക്കു ഇരതേടി 

അറപ്പോടെ വെറുപ്പോടെയകറ്റുക വേണ്ട ഒരിക്കലും      

ലോകമേ വേണ്ടെനിക്കു സഹതാപ വാക്കുകള്‍ 

വേണ്ടത്  അല്‍പ്പം കാരുണ്യം മാത്രം 

കരുതുക  ഞങ്ങളും ഈ ഭൂമിതന്‍ 

തുല്യ അവകാശികളെന്നു

GR KAVIYOOR

+919987537445/+918898006645

എന്റെ ചില art and craft വര്‍ക്കുകള്‍ - പ്രീത

 ഞാന്‍ പ്രീത.തിരുവനതപുരം ജില്ലയിലെ തോന്നയ്ക്കൽ കുടവൂർ എന്ന കൊച്ചു ഗ്രാമത്തിൽ താമസിക്കുന്നു . എന്റെ വീട്ടിൽ അച്ഛനും , അമ്മയും, ചേച്ചിയും ഉണ്ട്.ചേച്ചിടെ കല്യാണം കഴിഞ്ഞു  . എനിക്ക് നടക്കാന്‍ കഴിയില്ല . 11 വര്ഷമായി ഇങ്ങനെയായിട്ടു . പെട്ടെന്ന് നടന്നു കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ കാലുകള്‍ തളര്‍ന്നു പോയതാണ് . പരിശോധിച്ചപ്പോള്‍ നട്ടെല്ലില്‍ ടുമര്‍ വളരുകയാണ് എന്നും അത് ശസ്ത്രക്രിയ ചെയ്യണം എന്നും പറഞ്ഞു അങ്ങനെ 2001 ഫെബ്രുവരി 13 നു ശ്രീ ചിത്ര ആശുപത്രിയില്‍ ശസ്ത്ര ക്രിയ ചെയ്യുകയുo ചെയ്തു.ഇപ്പോള്‍ ഞാന്‍ എണീറ്റ്‌ ഇരിക്കും.ചെറിയ ഒരു സഹായം ഉണ്ട് എങ്കില്‍ വീല്‍ ചെയറില്‍ ഇറങ്ങി ഇരിക്കാനും കഴിയും . ഇപ്പോഴും ചികിത്സ ചെയ്യുന്നുണ്ട് . കൂടാതെ വീട്ടില്‍ ഇരുന്നു കൈ കൊണ്ട് മുത്ത്‌ മാല . കമ്മല്‍ അങ്ങനെ ഉള്ള ക്രാഫ്റ്റ് വര്‍ക്ക്‌ ഒക്കെ ചെയ്യും.  നിങ്ങളുടെ സഹായമുണ്ടെങ്കില്‍ വിജയത്തിലെത്തുമെന്ന ശുഭാപ്തി വിശ്വാസത്തോടെ...പ്രീത കുടവൂര്‍ (pravaahiny@gmail.com)

Woodrow Wilson - U.S. President from 1913-1921. Had a learning disability - he was severely dyslexic

Thomas Woodrow Wilson 

U.S. President from 1913-1921. Had a learning disability - he was severely dyslexic

(December 28, 1856-February 3, 1924) 

was born in Staunton, Virginia, to parents of a predominantly Scottish heritage. Since his father was a Presbyterian minister and his mother the daughter of a Presbyterian minister, Woodrow was raised in a pious and academic household. He spent a year at Davidson College in North Carolina and three at Princeton University where he received a baccalaureate degree in 1879.

After graduating from the Law School of the University of Virginia*, he practiced law for a year in Atlanta, Georgia, but it was a feeble practice. He entered graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University in 1883 and three years later received the doctorate. In 1885 he published Congressional Government, a splendid piece of scholarship which analyzes the difficulties arising from the separation of the legislative and executive powers in the American Constitution.

Before joining the faculty of Princeton University as a professor of jurisprudence and political economy, Wilson taught for three years at Bryn Mawr College and for two years at Wesleyan College. He was enormously successful as a lecturer and productive as a scholar.

As president of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, Wilson became widely known for his ideas on reforming education. In pursuit of his idealized intellectual life for democratically chosen students, he wanted to change the admission system, the pedagogical system, the social system, even the architectural layout of the campus. But Wilson was a thinker who needed to act. So he entered politics and as governor of the State of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913 distinguished himself once again as a reformer.

Wilson won the presidential election of 1912 when William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt split the Republican vote. Upon taking office he set about instituting the reforms he had outlined in his book The New Freedom, including the changing of the tariff, the revising of the banking system, the checking of monopolies and fraudulent advertising, the prohibiting of unfair business practices, and the like.

But the attention of this man of peace was forced to turn to war. In the early days of World War I, Wilson was determined to maintain neutrality. He protested British as well as German acts; he offered mediation to both sides but was rebuffed. The American electorate in 1916, reacting to the slogan «He kept us out of war», reelected Wilson to the presidency. However, in 1917 the issue of freedom of the seas compelled a decisive change. On January 31 Germany announced that «unrestricted submarine warfare» was already started; on March 27, after four American ships had been sunk, Wilson decided to ask for a declaration of war; on April 2 he made the formal request to Congress; and on April 6 the Congress granted it.

Wilson never doubted the outcome. He mobilized a nation - its manpower, its industry, its commerce, its agriculture. He was himself the chief mover in the propaganda war. His speech to Congress on January 8, 1918, on the «Fourteen Points» was a decisive stroke in winning that war, for people everywhere saw in his peace aims the vision of a world in which freedom, justice, and peace could flourish.

Although at the apogee of his fame when the 1919 Peace Conference assembled in Versailles, Wilson failed to carry his total conception of an ideal peace, but he did secure the adoption of the Covenant of the League of Nations. His major failure, however, was suffered at home when the Senate declined to approve American acceptance of the League of Nations. This stunning defeat resulted from his losing control of Congress after he had made the congressional election of 1918 virtually a vote of confidence, from his failure to appoint to the American peace delegation those who could speak for the Republican Party or for the Senate, from his unwillingness to compromise when some minor compromises might well have carried the day, from his physical incapacity in the days just prior to the vote.

The cause of this physical incapacity was the strain of the massive effort he made to obtain the support of the American people for the ratification of the Covenant of the League. After a speech in Pueblo, Colorado, on September 25, 1919, he collapsed and a week later suffered a cerebral haemorrhage from the effects of which he never fully recovered. An invalid, he completed the remaining seventeen months of his term of office and lived in retirement for the last three years of his life.

Walt Disney - Had a learning disability

Walt Disney - ( Walter Elias Disney )
Had a learning disability

Date of Birth (location): 5 December 1901, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Date of Death : 15 December 1966

During a 43-year Hollywood career, which spanned the development of the motion picture medium as a modern American art, Walter Elias Disney, a modern Aesop, established himself and his product as a genuine part of Americana. David Low, the late British political cartoonist, called Disney "the most significant figure in graphic arts since Leonardo DaVinci." A pioneer and innovator, and the possessor of one of the most fertile imaginations the world has ever known, Walt Disney, along with members of his staff, received more than 950 honors and citations from every nation in the world, including 48 Academy Awards and 7 Emmys in his lifetime. Walt Disney's personal awards included honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, the University of Southern California and UCLA; the Presidential Medal of Freedom; France's Legion of Honor and Officer d'Academie decorations; Thailand's Order of the Crown; Brazil's Order of the Southern Cross; Mexico's Order of the Aztec Eagle; and the Showman of the World Award from the National Association of Theatre Owners.

The creator of Mickey Mouse and founder of Disneyland and Walt Disney World was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 5, 1901. His father, Elias Disney, was an Irish-Canadian. His mother, Flora Call Disney, was of German-American descent. Walt was one of five children, four boys and a girl.

Raised on a farm near Marceline, Missouri, Walt became interested in drawing at an early age, selling his first sketches to neighbors when he was only seven years old. At McKinley High School in Chicago, Disney divided his attention between drawing and photography, contributing both to the school paper. At night he attended the Academy of Fine Arts.

During the fall of 1918, Disney attempted to enlist for military service. Rejected because he was only 16 years of age, Walt joined the Red Cross and was sent overseas, where he spent a year driving an ambulance and chauffeuring Red Cross officials. His ambulance was covered from stem to stem, not with stock camouflage, but with drawings and cartoons.

After the war, Walt returned to Kansas City, where he began his career as an advertising cartoonist. Here, in 1920, he created and marketed his first original animated cartoons, and later perfected a new method for combining live-action and animation.

In August of 1923, Walt Disney left Kansas City for Hollywood with nothing but a few drawing materials, $40 in his pocket and a completed animated and live-action film. Walt's brother, Roy 0. Disney, was already in California, with an immense amount of sympathy and encouragement, and $250. Pooling their resources, they borrowed an additional $500, and constructed a camera stand in their uncle's garage. Soon, they received an order from New York for the first "Alice Comedy" featurette, and the brothers began their production operation in the rear of a Hollywood real estate office two blocks away.

On July 13, 1925, Walt married one of his first employees, Lillian Bounds, in Lewiston, Idaho. They were blessed with two daughters: Diane, married to Ron Miller, former president and chief executive officer of Walt Disney Productions; and Sharon Disney Lund, who served as a member of Disney's Board of Directors and passed away in 1993. The Millers have seven children and Mrs. Lund had three.

Mickey Mouse was created in 1928, and his talents were first used in a silent cartoon entitled "Plane Crazy." However, before the cartoon could be released, sound burst upon the motion picture screen. Thus Mickey made his screen debut in "Steamboat Willie," the world's first fully-synchronized sound cartoon, which premiered at the Colony Theatre in New York on November 18, 1928.

Walt's drive to perfect the art of animation was endless. Technicolor was introduced to animation during the production of his "Silly Symphonies." In 1932, the film entitled "Flowers and Trees" won Walt the first of his 32 personal Academy Awards. In 1937, he released "The Old Mill," the first short subject to utilize the multiplane camera technique.

On December 21 of that same year, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," the first full-length animated musical feature, premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles. Produced at the unheard cost of $1,499,000 during the depths of the Depression, the film is still accounted as one of the great feats and imperishable monuments of the motion picture industry. During the next five years, Walt completed such other full-length animated classics as "Pinocchio," "Fantasia," "Dumbo," and "Bambi."

In 1940, construction was completed on Disney's Burbank studio. The staff swelled to more than 1,000 artists, animators, story men and technicians. During World War II, 94 percent of the Disney facilities were engaged in special government work, including the production of training and propaganda films for the armed services, as well as health films which are still shown throughout the world by the U.S. State Department. The remainder of his efforts were devoted to the production of comedy short subjects, deemed highly essential to civilian and military morale.

Disney's 1945 feature, the musical "The Three Caballeros," combined live action with the cartoon medium, a process he used successfully in such other features as "Song of the South" and the highly acclaimed "Mary Poppins." In all, 81 features were released by the studio during his lifetime.

Walt's inquisitive mind and keen sense for education through entertainment resulted in the award-winning "True-Life Adventure" series. Through such films as "The Living Desert," "The Vanishing Prairie," "The African Lion," and "White Wilderness," Disney brought fascinating insights into the world of wild animals and taught the importance of conserving our nation's outdoor heritage.

Disneyland, launched in 1955 as a fabulous $17 million Magic Kingdom, soon increased its investment tenfold. By its third decade, more than 250 million people were entertained, including presidents, kings and queens, and royalty from all over the globe.

A pioneer in the field of television programming, Disney began production in 1954, and was among the first to present full-color programming with his "Wonderful World of Color" in 1961. "The Mickey Mouse Club" and "Zorro" were popular favorites in the 1950s.

But that was only the beginning. In 1965, Walt Disney turned his attention toward the problem of improving the quality of urban life in America. He personally directed the design on an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, or EPCOT, planned as a living showcase for the creativity of American industry.

Said Disney, "I don't believe there is a challenge anywhere in the world that is more important to people everywhere than finding the solution to the problems of our cities. But where do we begin? Well, we're convinced we must start with the public need. And the need is not just for curing the old ills of old cities. We think the need is for starting from scratch on virgin land and building a community that will become a prototype for the future."

Thus, Disney directed the purchase of 43 square miles of virgin land -- twice the size of Manhattan Island -- in the center of the state of Florida. Here, he master planned a whole new Disney world of entertainment to include a new amusement theme park, motel-hotel resort vacation center and his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. After more than seven years of master planning and preparation, including 52 months of actual construction, Walt Disney World opened to the public as scheduled on October 1, 1971. Epcot Center opened on October 1, 1982.

Prior to his death on December 15, 1966, Walt Disney took a deep interest in the establishment of California Institute of the Arts, a college level, professional school of all the creative and performing arts. Of Cal Arts, Walt once said, "It's the principal thing I hope to leave when I move on to greener pastures. If I can help provide a place to develop the talent of the future, I think I will have accomplished something."

California Institute of the Arts was founded in 1961 with the amalgamation of two schools, the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music and Chouinard Art Institute. The campus is located in the city of Valencia, 32 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Walt Disney conceived the new school as a place where all the performing and creative arts would be taught under one roof in a "community of the arts" as a completely new approach to professional arts training.

Walt Disney is a legend and a folk hero of the 20th century. His worldwide popularity was based upon the ideas which his name represents: imagination, optimism and self-made success in the American tradition. Walt Disney did more to touch the hearts, minds, and emotions of millions of Americans than any other man in the past century. Through his work, he brought joy, happiness and a universal means of communication to the people of every nation. Certainly, our world shall know but one Walt Disney.

Tanni Grey-Thompson - One of Great Britain's most successful Paralympians

Tanni Grey-Thompson -  (26 July 1969, Cardiff, Wales, UK ) 

"Tanni Carys Davina Grey-Thompson OBE - to give her full name and title - is the disabled athlete that most people instantly recognise. Formerly Tanni Grey - the Thompson was added following her marriage in 1999 - she has competed in Paralympic Games since 1988, representing Britain at distances ranging from 100m to 800m. She has won fourteen paralympic medals including nine golds, and has broken over twenty world records. As a wheelchair athlete she was also the winner of five London marathons - in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2001. In recent years, she has established herself as a TV presenter - including BBC TWO's From the Edge disability magazine programme."





Early Life

Tanni was born on 26th July 1969 in Cardiff, Wales and Christened 'Carys Davina'. She was first called the name Tanni by her two-year-old sister Sian who, on first seeing her, declared she was 'tiny.'

As a young child Tanni wore callipers, she started to use a wheelchair from the age of seven. From the outset, her parents were supportive and encouraged her independent streak. Tanni's first school experience was at Birch Grove Primary, she is remembered there as a very determined young lady.  Tanni tried many sports at primary school and particularly enjoyed swimming, archery and horse riding. 

Tanni first tried wheelchair racing at St. Cyres Comprehensive School, aged 13.  At 15 she won the 100 metres at the Junior National Wheelchair Games.  At 18, Tanni became a member of the Bridgend Athletics Club, the British Wheelchair Racing Squad and was selected for her first World Wheelchair Games.

Sporting Career

In Seoul in 1988, Tanni represented Great Britain and won her first Paralympic medal, the 400m bronze. Spinal surgery forced Tanni to take a year away from the track and incredibly, at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics, she stormed to victory taking four gold medals in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres. The same year, she won her first of six London Wheelchair Marathons.

Tanni won the 800 metres gold in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics along with three silver medals in the 100, 200 and 400 metres. At the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, 31 year old Tanni returned with a vengeance, striking gold a fabulous four times in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres. In Athens 2004, aged 35, she takes first place in the 100 and 400 metres bringing her Paralympic gold medal tally to an astonishing eleven.

Present Day

After meeting as members of the national wheelchair racing squad, Tanni Grey married Ian Thompson on 1st May 1999 at St John's Church, Cardiff.  Tanni says, "The National Championships are always the first week in May so we thought it would help us both remember our wedding anniversary!"

Daughter Carys was born in 2002.  Whenever possible Carys has accompanied her mum and dad to various sporting events at home and abroad.  Carys was at the 2008 Athens Paralympic Games to see her mum win her last two gold medals.

The Grey-Thompsons live in the North East of England.

Since her retirement, Tanni has continued to be involved in sport.  She is a director of UK Athletics and a member of the board of the London Marathon.

In 2008 Tanni was appointed as a member of Transport for London, where she chairs the Environment, Corporate and Planning Panel, and is a member of the Surface Transport and Safety, Health and Environment Assurance Panels.

In 2010 Tanni was appointed to the House of Lords, where she serves as a non party political crossbench peer.  Tanni took the title Baroness Grey-Thompson of Eaglescliffe in the County of Durham.  Tanni is a working peer and hopes to use her experience and knowledge to great effect in debates in the House.

 

Academic Achievements

Pro Chancellor

In 2005 Tanni became Pro Chancellor of Staffordshire University.

Degree

1991

• Loughborough University, BA Politics

Honorary Degrees

• Tanni has been awarded a combination of honorary degrees from 25 Academic Institutions.

2010

• Bath University, Hon Doctor of Laws

2005

• Newcastle University, Hon Doctor
• Oxford Brookes University, Hon Doctor
• Liverpool John Moores, Hon fellowship
• Leicester University, Hon Doctor of Laws
• Sheffield Hallam University, Hon Doctor of the University
• University of Hull, Hon Doctor of Science

2004

• University of Exeter, Doctor of Laws
• Herriot Watt University, Doctor of Laws
• Open University, Doctor of the University

2003

• University of Wales, Newport, Hon Doctor

2002

• University of Wales, Doctor of Laws

2001

• Leeds Metropolitan University, Hon Doctor
• Loughborough University, Honorary Doctor
• Teesside University, Hon Masters
• York and Ripon College, Hon Doctor
• University of Swansea, Fellowship of the University
• University of Glamorgan, Chancellors Medal
• UWIC, Hon fellowship

2000

• University of Surrey, St Mary’s, Doctor of the University

1998

• Southampton University, Hon Doctor of the School of Business
• Manchester Metropolitan University, Hon MA
• Staffordshire University, Hon Doctor of Sport

1997

• Cardiff University, Hon Fellow

1994

• Loughborough University, Hon MA  

Sporting Achievements

Paralympic Games

• 2004 Athens - 2 Gold medals in the 100m, and 400m
• 2000 Sydney - 4 Gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m
• 1996 Atlanta - 1 Gold medal in the 800m (WR). 3 Silver medals in the 100m, 200m, and 400m
• 1992 Barcelona - 4 Gold medals in the 100m (WR), 200m, 400m (WR) and 800m
• 1988 Seoul - 1 Bronze medal 400m

* WR - World Record 

---

World Circuit

• 6 time winner of the Women’s London Wheelchair Marathon
• First woman in the world to break one minute for the 400m
• First British Woman to break two hours for the marathon
• British Wheelchair Racing Associations Road Race Grand Prix champion 1998 and 2005
• Current European and British record holder for the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m
• 30 world records broken
• World Championship medals - 5 golds, 4 silvers and 1 bronze medal.

---

Personal Bests

• 100m - 16.77, Kirby, 2005
• 200m - 29.66 Atlanta, 2004
• 400m - 56.28, Langenthal, Switzerland, 2003
• 800m - 1.51.67, Atlanta, 2004
• 1500m - 3.35.15, Jona, Switzerland, 1999
• 5000m - 12.32.61, Jona, Switzerland, 1999
• 10,000m - 25.39.6, Kirby, England, 1999
• 10km road - 24.03, Mobile, USA, 1994
• Half Marathon - 52.17, Great North Run, 1997  

Distinctions

 Tanni has received numerous accolades and awards in recognition of her Paralympic and sporting achievements.

2010

•  Appointed to the House of Lords as a crossbench peer

2006

• Elected to the Laureus World Sports Academy

2005

• Dame of the British Empire

2004

• BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year (also 1992, 2000)

2003

• Inducted in to the BWSF Hall of Fame

2001

• Voted ‘UK Sporting Hero’ by SPORT UK

2000

• OBE
• Sunday Times Sports Woman of the Year, Helen Rollason Award
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year – Helen Rollason Award (2000)
• Sportswriters Award
• Welsh Woman of the Year Award
• Welsh Sportswoman of the Year
• Best Welsh Sportswoman of 50 years
• Pride of Britain – Special Award

1992

• Awarded MBE
• Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year
• Sports Writers Association female disabled athlete of the year