Maddie Down

Maddie Down
Personal information
Born2007 (age 18–19)
Sport
SportSprinting, long jump
T38
Events
100m, 200m, long jump
Achievements and titles
2024
World finals
2025
2023 Youth
Medal record
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place2026 Glasgow100m T38
Commonwealth Youth Games
Gold medal – first place2023 Trinbago100m T38
Gold medal – first place2023 TrinbagoLong jump
UK Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place2026 UK Indoor Championships60m T38

Madeline Down (born 2007)[1] is a British athlete, who won the 100 metres T38 and long jump events at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.

Career

Down is a member of Halesowen Athletics Club.[2] She trains at the University of Birmingham[3] and has been a part of the British Athletics Paralympic Futures Programme. She has been a member the British Athletics World Class Programme from the age of 17 following her performances in the Paris Paralympics.[4][5]

At the 2022 Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix, Down came third in the 60 metres event.[6] In early 2023, Down had an L5 stress fracture in her back.[7]

At the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, Down won both the 100 metres T38 and long jump events; it was the first time that para sports had been included at the Commonwealth Youth Games.[7] It was her first international competition.[5] She was later nominated for the 2023 SportsAid One-To-Watch award.[7] In 2024, she won the long jump events at the English Indoor and Outdoor Championships.[2]

Down was selected for the 100 metres T38 and long jump events at the 2024 Summer Paralympics;[8] it was her first Paralympic Games appearance.[9] In the 100 metres event, she qualified for the final after a personal best time of 12.98s in the heats. She finished eighth in the final.[10] In the T38 long jump she finished in 6th place with a PB of 4.81 metres.

Down was selected to represent Great Britain at the World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi in 2025, competing while still 17 years of age she jumped over 5.00m for the first time in competition and finished 5th which was also her world ranking by year end.[11]

Down won her first senior British title winning the 60m at the UK Indoor Championships in her home city of Birmingham.[12]

Personal life

Down has attended the University of Birmingham School;[6] her Paralympics attendance was just after she completed her GCSEs.[8] She was inspired to compete in athletics after watching the 2012 Summer Paralympics at the age of 4.[8] Down has cerebral palsy.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Maddie Down". British Paralympic Association. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Halesowen teenager Maddie to race at Paralympic Games". Express & Star. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  3. ↑ "PathwaytoParis A Paralympics preview". University of Birmingham Sports. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  4. ↑ "2024/25 PARALYMPIC WORLD CLASS PROGRAMME ATHLETES ANNOUNCED". UK Athletics. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  5. 1 2 "YEMI MARY JOHN AND MADELINE DOWN SHORTLISTED FOR SPORTSAID'S ONES TO WATCH AWARD". UK Athletics. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Sensational win for UoB School pupil at Muller Indoor GP – British Athletics". University of Birmingham School. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 "Maddie Down jumps to SportsAid One-to-Watch Award nomination". The Herald. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 "Who are the young ParalympicsGB athletes to watch this year?". BBC. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  9. ↑ "Final ParalympicsGB Para athletics names confirmed for Paris 2024". British Paralympic Association. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  10. ↑ "Maddie Down goes from exam results to Paralympic final". Border Counties Advertizer. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  11. ↑ Delhi, Will Jennings in New (2 October 2025). "Selly Oak star Maddie Down banishes Delhi demons with brilliant personal best". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "Teenage athlete clinches first British senior title". Halesowen News. 20 February 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "#PathwaytoParis: A Paralympics preview". University of Birmingham. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
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