Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Cerebral Palsy
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
T36
Further personal information
Residence
London, ENG
Languages
English
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began running in his teens. He also played football, as a goalkeeper.
Why this sport?
He was unable to join his siblings when they rode their bikes, so he ran behind them instead.
International debut
Year
2011
Competing for
Great Britain
Tournament
World Championships
Location
Christchurch, NZL
General interest
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold in the T36 400m at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (teambath.com, 26 Jan 2020; bbc.com, 23 Jan 2020)
Injuries
He took a six-month break from the sport in 2018 due to a foot injury. He missed the 2018 European Championships in Berlin, Germany, before returning to action in February 2019. (paralympics.org.uk, 27 Feb 2019, 23 Feb 2019; dorsetecho.co.uk, 08 Jun 2018)
Awards and honours
In November 2017 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Sport at the University of Bath in England. (teambath.com, 21 Nov 2017)
He was named Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in the 2017 New Year's Honours list. (umsa.org.uk, 19 May 2017; paralympic.org, 31 Dec 2016)
He was named Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in the 2017 New Year's Honours list. (umsa.org.uk, 19 May 2017; paralympic.org, 31 Dec 2016)
Famous relatives
His mother Kate was a dancer with the Royal Ballet and his grandfather played tennis at Wimbledon. His father, also named Paul, was an actor in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. He played a bounty hunter called Greedo, who was shot by Han Solo. (telegraph.co.uk, 16 Sep 2016)
Impairment
He developed cerebral palsy after complications at birth. While in the womb, an abnormal amount of blood was transferred to his twin brother, starving Blake of blood. He was born with insufficient red blood cells, which required three blood transfusions and meant he spent two months in an incubator. (telegraph.co.uk, 29 Aug 2012)
Other information
RETIREMENT
In January 2020 he announced his retirement from Para athletics. "When I started out in 2009, I didn't think I'd achieve what I have in the sport. I've had an amazing time during my career. There have been plenty of ups and downs, but I can truly say I've enjoyed every step of the way with gold at the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016 the highlight." (teambath.com, 26 Jan 2020; bbc.com, 23 Jan 2020)
In January 2020 he announced his retirement from Para athletics. "When I started out in 2009, I didn't think I'd achieve what I have in the sport. I've had an amazing time during my career. There have been plenty of ups and downs, but I can truly say I've enjoyed every step of the way with gold at the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016 the highlight." (teambath.com, 26 Jan 2020; bbc.com, 23 Jan 2020)
Results
Unit | Date | Rank |
---|
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 1500 m T36 | Final | 2011-01-23 | 2 | |
Men's 800 m T36 | Heat 2 | 2011-01-27 | 1 | |
Men's 400 m T36 | Heat 2 | 2011-01-28 | 1 | |
Men's 800 m T36 | Final | 2011-01-28 | 2 | |
Men's 400 m T36 | Final | 2011-01-29 | 1 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 400 m T36 | Final Round | 2012-09-04 | 2 | |
Men's 800 m T36 | Final Round | 2012-09-06 | 3 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 800 m T36 | Final 1 | 2013-07-22 | 1 | |
Men's 400 m T36 | Final 1 | 2013-07-26 | 2 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 400 m T36 | Heat 2 | 2015-10-22 | 1 | |
Men's 400 m T36 | Final 1 | 2015-10-23 | 2 | |
Men's 800 m T36 | Heat 1 | 2015-10-25 | 7 | |
Men's 800 m T36 | Final 1 | 2015-10-26 | 1 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 400 m T36 | Final Round | 2016-09-16 | 1 | |
Men's 800 m T36 | Final Round | 2016-09-17 | 2 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 200 m T36 | Heat 2 | 2017-07-16 | 7 | |
Men's 200 m T36 | Final 1 | 2017-07-17 | 8 | |
Men's 400 m T36 | Final 1 | 2017-07-21 | 4 | |
Men's 100 m T36 | Heat 1 | 2017-07-22 | 7 | |
Men's 100 m T36 | Final 1 | 2017-07-22 | 6 |