It is with great sadness that we heard the news that Paralympic Weightlifter Rudi Christopher passed away recently. Rudi was fostered as a child but had the support of foster brothers and sisters from a wide variety of backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures, all of which made him the fun guy he was to be around.

Rudi was born with Spina Bifida and discovered a talent for Weightlifting.  He was a long-time member of the British Weightlifting Association for the Disabled and took part in many events held at Stoke Mandeville Stadium during the 1980’s.  Rudi represented Great Britain at many competitions including the 1988 Paralympic Games in Seoul, South Korea where he competed in the up to 95 KG Weightlifting competition.

Photo: GB Weightlifting Team Russell Willey, Jimmy Jamieson, Anthony Peddle, Glyn Hibbert (Coach), Rudi Christopher and Timmy Toner

Rudi was a very positive person and was awarded an Open University degree in Art History and had his graduation at Ely Cathedral.  Rudi had a great love of music including Status Quo as well as Formula1 Motor Racing and was a fan of Sir Lewis Hamilton.  Thanks to his friend Andrew Roberts we learned that Rudi had inner strength to match his physical strength and always looked on the bright side of life – a tune he would whistle happily.

Everyone at WheelPower and Stoke Mandeville Stadium send our heartfelt condolences to Rudi’s sister, Mim and extended family and friends and all in the disabled weightlifting community who share their loss of a great man.

Martin McElhatton OBE, WheelPower Chief Executive