Great Britain handcyclist Callum Russell is set to compete at the World Championships in Alabama this weekend, where he is considered one of the team's medal hopes. Russell, 30, was paralysed from the waist down in 2018 after a mountain biking accident severed his spine.
Despite the injury, Russell quickly sought to regain physical fitness. He initially tried para-rowing, winning a bronze medal on his international debut at a World Cup in 2022. His interest in cycling was rekindled after seeing a teammate use a handcycle, leading him to switch sports in 2023.
In 2025, Russell achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first British male handcyclist to win a World Championship medal with a time trial bronze in Belgium. Alongside his cycling career, which is his primary focus as a UK Sport-funded athlete, Russell also supplements his income through modelling jobs.