A Paralympic athlete from West Kingsdown has had his custom-made wheelchair stolen from outside of his home – and will be unable to compete in Rio unless it is returned to him.
John Smith, 26, woke up this morning (June 22) to find his £5,000 chair had been taken from his van in Neal Road.
John Smith
Mr Smith, who is due to represent Team GB in the T54 marathon event, told News Shopper: "I start training at 8am every morning, I went down this morning and the door was open.
“I popped my head round and it was gone – they had also taken my training bag and under armour.
“At first I thought someone was playing a joke on me. It’s worth nothing to anyone else – it’s custom-made for me, it was made around me.
“There are probably five other people in the world that could use that chair and it’s worth around £20 in scrap.”
The missing chair
Mr Smith, who has had the chair since December, received an email yesterday to say he would be travelling to Rio but claims it would take manufacturers four months to make a new one – meaning if his is not returned he won’t be able to compete.
He added: “I’ve spoken to the manufactures, and they won’t be able to make a new chair on time – it takes four months, Rio is in two-and-a-half months.
“If I don’t get the chair back, I won’t be going, it’s that simple. Without it, I’m nothing, I’m not a wheelchair racer.”
John Smith. Picture: Kat Skeldon
The speedster, who was paralysed from the waist-down after being shot while lamping for rabbits when he was 16 years old, trains at Gravesend’s Cyclopark.
The former amateur boxer is ranked number two in Team GB - his training partner and six-time gold medallist David Weir sits above him.
Mr Smith said: “If I can’t go out there then this impacts on my coach too and on Dave, I could be there helping Dave out – we’re a team – but he’ll be a lone wolf.
“If would affect the kids I help train at the Cyclopark.
“I just want it back, I don’t care who took it – if you’re feeling guilty, just leave it on my drive, leave it at the Cyclopark.
“If you know where it is just leave your number. If you want the wheels, keep the wheels – I just need the frame.
“I’m willing to offer a reward.”
Mike Stevens, Interim CEO for Cyclopark, Gravesend, with ambassador and John Smith
The serial number on the chair is 071505.
The wheelchair had been stored inside a locked black Renault Traffic van, before it was stolen between 8pm yesterday and 8am this morning.
There was no reported damage to the van and enquiries into the theft are ongoing.
Anyone with information should call 01622 604100, quoting crime reference YY/13384/16.
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