Our Deaflympics Stars

We had a number of Alumni represent Great Britain in the Deaflympics in Tokyo. The Tokyo games marked the 100th anniversary of Deaflympics. We’re incredibly proud to see that so many of our talented Alumni represented Great Britain.

Oliver Pritchard - Cycling

Oliver competed in the cycling events, including Road, Time Trial, and Sprint races. Oliver began training during lockdown and has since become the first-ever deaf professional triathlete, earning podium finishes at the European Championships. Representing Team GB at the Deaflympics was a dream come true for him.

Jasmine Wilkins - Women’s Football

Jasmine grew up watching her deaf father and brother play football, which inspired her own journey. From joining her brother’s girls’ team to playing for her local ladies’ team, Jasmine always dreamed of representing her country at the Deaflympics.

Ellis McLean - Men’s Football

Ellis started playing football in his garden aged six and progressed through county leagues, Charlton and Fulham deaf teams, Fleet Town, and Camberley, to representing England Deaf at the World Championships (Malaysia 2023) and European Championships (Turkey 2024). He then took on the Deaflympics!

Mark Gill – Head Coach for GB Women’s Deaf Football Team

Mark started football coaching at the age of 17. Mark has worked with various football clubs across the country, including Fulham Deaf, Bristol City Deaf and Thatcham Town U16. Now, alongside GB commitments, Mark helps coach Longwell Green U10s.

Mark is no stranger to the Deaflympics - prior to his role as Head Coach in Japan with the GB women’s team, he coached the GB Men’s team in the 2009 Deaflympics in Taiwan and the 2011 European Deaf Championships in Denmark, as well as the GB women’s team at the 2013 Deaflympics in Bulgaria. Mark was very proud to represent Great Britain again this year and to have achieved the Bronze medal in Tokyo.