Gloucestershire-based para-athlete Charlie Denman has just finished a stellar season.

She started 2023 as the reigning England athletics champion at 100m, 200m and 400m in the newest para-athletic event, framerunning.

Framerunning involves running within a supportive, three-wheeled frame and is designed for people who may have balance issues or who otherwise have difficulty in running unsupported.

The event is gaining in popularity worldwide and has already been featured several times at European and World Para-athletics Championships, not least in this year’s World Championships when the UK’s men came home with one gold and one silver medal.

Charlie, who is now 22, took up the event when she was 17 and has trained and competed ever since. Prior to this season, Charlie, although England champion, was not selected for the World Championships due to her relatively modest ranking in the UK as a whole.

That has all changed now and, thanks to a string of personal best performances, she is now ranked No. 1 in the UK at three aforementioned distances.

“Charlie is a joy to coach,” said coach Bob Purcell. “She works extremely hard, not just with me on the track but she is in the gym and in the pool several times a week and all of that has shown huge dividends.

“Her rankings ought to make her a shoo-in for a national vest very soon.”

Despite her achievements, Charlie is not funded by her national governing body. Funding in athletics, including para-athletics, is contingent on the event featuring at Olympic level and framerunning hasn’t made that grade yet.

For certain, it will not be represented in Paris next year, although talks are underway and there is much hope for Los Angeles in 2028.

Another challenge is that international championships have packed programmes already. Framerunning at European and World Championships is only represented by one race – 100m – and if framerunning is to meet its full potential, other events would need to be moved out.

“Framerunning is a massively exciting spectator event,” added Purcell, who is lead para-athletics coach at Gloucester Athletic Club.

“Not only that but it is extremely therapeutic. Many people trying this for the first time also experience their very first opportunity for vigorous exercise.

“Imagine being an adult and never having known the feeling of being out of breath before. Then imagine what that means in terms of fitness, health and longevity.”

Framerunning is growing rapidly in the UK and there are south west regional centres in Bath and North Devon, as well as a long-established academy at the Blackbridge athletics track in Gloucester where anyone is welcome to come along and try this most accessible of athletic events.

“We know training and competition isn’t for everyone,” continued Purcell, “but the event needs mass participation to grow so even if it is just for recreation and gentle exercise, come along and give it a go!”