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Sir Philip Craven

Kirsty Young talks to Sir Philip Craven, the International Paralympic Committee president.

Sir Philip Craven is the President of the International Paralympic Committee and a former wheelchair basketball athlete.

Craven represented Great Britain in wheelchair basketball at five editions of the Paralympic Games, from 1972 to 1988. He also competed in track and field athletics and swimming at the 1972 Games.

He won gold at the wheelchair basketball World Championships in 1973, and bronze in 1975, as well as two gold medals (1971, 1974) and a silver (1993) at the European Championships. He also won gold at the European Champions Cup in 1994, and gold at the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in 1970.

Sir Philip Craven has been passionate about sport all his life. He was born in Bolton and educated at the University of Manchester, where he graduated with a geography degree in 1972.

He grew up the younger of two boys to parents Herbert and Hilda who ran a floristry shop. He spent his childhood playing lots of cricket, climbing trees and trainspotting. Then when he was sixteen, he fell whilst rock climbing and broke his back. He was paralysed from the chest down and lost the use of his legs. He became a wheelchair user, went on to university and became a wheelchair basketball player.

He met his French wife, Joscelyne when he was working as a sports trainer in Brittany. They have been married for 42 years and have two children and three grandsons.

Producer: Sarah Taylor.

Available now

34 minutes

Last on

Fri 9 Dec 2016 09:00

Music Played

  • Elbow

    One Day Like This

    • The Seldom Seen Kid.
    • Polydor.
  • The Rolling Stones

    Not Fade Away

    • Forty Licks.
    • ABKCO.
  • Bedrich Smetana

    Die Moldau, from M谩 Vlast

    Performer: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • Smetana:Moldau.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • The Beatles

    Across The Universe

    • Let It Be.
    • EMI.
  • Simon & Garfunkel

    Kathy聮s Song

    • Sounds of Silence.
    • CBS.
  • Peter, Paul and Mary

    Leaving on a Jet Plane

    • The Very Best of Peter, Paul and Mary.
    • Warner Music UK.
  • Alan Stivell

    Suite des montagnes

    • Reflets.
    • Fontana.
  • CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE

    • Mark Knopfler

      Going Home (Theme of the Local Hero)

      • Alchemy.
      • Vertigo.
  • BOOK CHOICE

    Guide des vins: Bettane and Desseauve

  • LUXRY ITEM

    Test Match Special archive

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Philip Craven
Producer Sarah Taylor

Broadcasts

  • Sun 4 Dec 2016 11:15
  • Fri 9 Dec 2016 09:00

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