Eden Rainbow-Cooper (born 17 May 2001) is an elite English Paralympic athlete from Portsmouth. Rainbow-Cooper is a T54 athlete who competes as a wheelchair racer.[2]

Eden Rainbow-Cooper
Rainbow-Cooper after winning 2024 Boston Marathon
Personal information
Born (2001-05-17) 17 May 2001 (age 23)
Portsmouth, England[1]
Sport
Country England
SportWheelchair racing
DisabilitySacral agenesis
Disability classT54
ClubRed Velvet Racing Team
Coached byArno Mul (2023 - present)
Medal record
Athletics
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2022 Birmingham Marathon (T54)
Rainbow-Cooper crossing the finishing line of the 2024 Boston Marathon

She was born with sacral agenesis. Rainbow-Cooper began wheelchair racing in 2013 and is since 2023 coached by the Dutch coach Arno Mul. From 2013 to 2023 she was a part of Weir Archer Academy.[3] In the 2022 Commonwealth Games, she won a silver medal in the marathon (T54) event.[4] She went on to come first in London's Big Half, equalling Manuela Schär’s course record for the women's wheelchair race.[5] In September 2022, she won the women's wheelchair race in the Great North Run.[6]
In April 2024, she won the women's wheelchair race in the Boston Marathon, becoming the first woman from Great Britain to do so.[7][8]

Eden made her Paralympic debut at the 2024 Summer Paralympics held in Paris, France.[9] There she competed in the 1500m, 5000m and marathon in the T54 classification. She came 7th in 1500m but failed to finish the 5000m or marathon.[10]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Eden Rainbow-Cooper". Team England. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Eden Rainbow-Cooper - Athletics | Paralympic Athlete Profile". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Eden Rainbow-Cooper - Athletics | Team England Profile". Team England. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Athletics - Women's Para Marathon (T53/54) results". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Historic half for the elites". The Big Half. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  6. ^ Media, P. A. (11 September 2022). "Jacob Kiplimo and Hellen Obiri streak to victory in Great North Run". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  7. ^ Haynes, Veronica (15 April 2024). "Hug shatters record; Cooper enjoys historic win in Boston Marathon wheelchair races". WCVB. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  8. ^ Pinnow, Faith. "Eden Rainbow-Cooper wins women's wheelchair division". www.boston.com.
  9. ^ "Paris 2024: Eden Rainbow-Cooper wants to smash ceilings". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  10. ^ "EDEN RAINBOW-COOPER STORMS INTO THE FINAL IN A RACE SHE DIDN'T PLAN TO COMPETE IN". www.eurosport.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024.