A new event is set to be introduced at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris and Gloucester Athletic Club could, just could, have a medal contender.

The discipline is race running and the para-athlete is Charlie Price, currently 18 who is a student at Gloucester College.

Charlie is one of several athletes under the watchful eye of Bob Purcell, who is lead para-athletics coach at Gloucester AC.

“We have about 16 para-athletes at the club and we offer athletics for everyone,” he said,

Purcell, who is 71, has been a para-athletics coach for the past eight years and has become a big fan of race running.

“Athletes run within a three-wheeled frame,” explained Purcell. “There is a chest plate and a saddle but there are no pedals or gears.

“The athletes run with their feet in direct contact with the ground, it’s all human effort. Specifically, it is designed for those athletes who may have balance issues such as those born with cerebral palsy or have an acquired brain injury.

“It gives access to sport to people who otherwise would not be able to access a vigorous sport, it gets you out of breath, it gives you exercise and improves your health. It’s life transforming.”

The event featured in a limited way at the IPC European Championships in 2018 and in last year's world championships in Dubai.

Although it will not feature in the Tokyo Paralympics, it will definitely be part of the Games in four years’ time, and Purcell has high hopes for Charlie Price.

“Race running has only been competed internationally at 100 metres but I'm sure this will change up to Paris in 2024,” he said. “Nationally there are opportunities from 60m up to 1,500m.”

And the more options the better for Charlie Price, of course.

“She’s something of a trailblazer in the event and world ranked in four events,” said Purcell. “She’s been invited to join UKA's Paralympic Pathway towards Paris.

“I’m an athletics coach and my goal is to help people to win medals.”

And Charlie Price is certainly very good because her honours include being the reigning CP Sport World Champion at 400m, and the UK silver medallist in the 100m in both 2018 and 2019.

She ended also last season world ranked at 7th for the 100m, 5th for the 200m, 5th for the 400m and 4th for the 800m

Purcell, who believes that Gloucester AC may have the largest squad of race running athletes in the UK – race running is popular at Milestone School in Gloucester, which is one of the biggest special schools in the country - is a big supporter of all para-athletes.

A decent sprinter at school back in the day, he started supporting para-athletics after the London Games in 2012.

“I was a Games Maker at the London Olympics,” he explained. “I was blown away by the Olympics, but I didn’t learn anything new, it was just another athletics meeting albeit on a much bigger scale!

“But then I volunteered at the Paralympics. That was amazing too, but the difference was that there was so much I didn’t know. There were so many different categories and classifications, I knew I wanted to get involved.”

So he did, and the para-athletics section at Gloucester AC is certainly going from strength to strength.

“Anybody who wants to take up para-athletics is welcome,” he said. “We are fully equipped and have all the necessary equipment for throwing, running and jumping.

“There are no physical barriers for anyone wanting to take up athletics.”