​Guidant Global’s Stephen Salmon becomes a Guinness World Records holder

By Guidant Global

We are delighted to announce that our very own Senior Marketing Executive, Stephen Salmon, has earned his title as a Guinness World Records holder!

​An incredible achievement
Stephen’s finishing time of 3 hours 18 minutes and 15 seconds at the 2021 London Marathon has been officially recognised as the new Guinness World Records time for the fastest marathon in a non-racing wheelchair.

Read the full coverage of his London Marathon experience here.

Stephen became a wheelchair user in 2008
He developed spastic paraparesis following a neurological infection while serving as a Royal Engineer in the British Army. Since then, one of his passions has been to create a more inclusive world for young wheelchair users.

His record-breaking effort at the London Marathon raised more than £10,200 for Whizz-Kidz, the UK’s leading charity for young wheelchair users. Whizz-Kidz is a cause both Guidant Global and Stephen regularly work together with and support, in the hopes of building a society where all young wheelchair users are mobile, enabled and included.

Accomplishing a 13-year goal in the making
Nine days before the London Marathon, Stephen had lost 75% of grip strength in his left hand. While he was advised to withdraw, Stephen was undeterred by the setback and went ahead to complete the marathon, and of course, did so in record breaking time.

A message from Stephen:
“Completing the London Marathon has been a long-term goal of mine, even before becoming a wheelchair user. Finally accomplishing this goal means a great deal to me. Now that I’ve done it, I’m able to close a chapter that has been 13 years in the making and start a new one.

The record has been the ‘icing on the cake’ of a fantastic experience and symbolic achievement in re-writing what I had thought was possible for me as a wheelchair user 13 years before.”

Disability inclusion
Stephen brings this same determination to his job and has been the driving force in our journey to Disability Confident Leader status - and in our recent Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative Award win.

Being at the forefront of our diversity and inclusion strategy, Stephen is determined to break barriers and educate others on disability inclusion best practice. He is proof that having a disability is not a barrier to achieving your personal and professional goals, whatever they may be.

From all of us at Team Guidant, congratulations Stephen!

​

​Want to join our inclusive global team? Make a difference with us today >