Ian Harper

Ian Harper is a Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger from Great Britain representing the Europe Eurasia Region. He is also the former Chair of the Athlete Leadership Team for Special Olympics Great Britain (2018 – 2022).

Ian is motivated by personal objectives to help all athletes achieve their potential both on and off the sporting field. He aspires to gain more skills and experience to help him reach his future goals and ambitions when his SSIGM is complete. He stands for ambition, passion, determination, dedication, and the will power for all athletes, including himself, to achieve more. He wants to see more Athlete Input/Leadership Councils across SOEE so athletes can have a voice on their national programs and provide feedback. Also, he would like to see more young athletes of the future gain leadership skills as they grow in confidence. Through this, he hopes that athletes will send a message and work together with government programs, community partners and businesses across the world to bring the Inclusion Revolution change that world really needs.

Ian has won gold medals at 3 different Special Olympics Great Britain National Summer Games. He won gold in 200 meters in Glasgow 2005, 100 meters in Leicester 2009 and Shot Put in Bath 2013.

He was a gold medallist at the 2005 European Summer Games in the Czech Republic.

Ian is Chair of the first Special Olympics Great Britain Athlete Leadership Team in 2018

He is a Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger for Europe Eurasia in 2019

Ian was nominated for the Disability Power top 100 awards in the UK in 2020.

Ian has been a Service Quality Director for Aspire Living since 2010. In his free time Ian likes to listen to relaxing music and do meditation, learn to speak many different European languages, and play on a musical keyboard. In the future he aspires to be a Professional Public Speaker, Entrepreneur, Politician, Writer, and Motor Racing Driver.

Ian plans to continue to be an Athlete Leader, remain a competitor and organise fundraising events for Special Olympics across Europe and Internationally. Ian plans to become a Health Messenger and launch new Special Olympics Unified Projects to benefit all athletes. He hopes to launch a new podcast show called Intellectual Conversations and create travel vlogs for YouTube and other social media outlets. Ian also hopes to settle down, get married, and start a family.