Paula Craig with CEO, patients and organizers of the event Faiz Al-Najdi Saudi Gazette RIYADH — Inspirational speaker, world champion triathlete and top British policewoman told patients, doctors and nurses at Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City in Riyadh that her disability did not prevent her from achieving her goals both professionally and competitively. Paula Craig delivered the speech in front of 350 people. British Embassy officials in Riyadh accompanied her. The event was organized by the Education and Staff Development Department of Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City. Craig talked about her own experiences of being an accomplished able-bodied athlete to being confined to a wheelchair. “I am proud of the fact that I am the first female athlete to have completed the London Marathon as an able-bodied and wheelchair athlete,” she said. She mentioned that courage and determination is all that is needed to lead a normal life despite any physical disabilities. She touched base on her life and career as both an able-bodied and wheelchair-confined individual, an athlete and as a professional police officer. Craig joined the Metropolitan Police Service of London in 1986 and worked as a qualified radiographer at St. Thomas Hospital in London. She joined the CID in 1992 and in 1996 was posted to the National Crime Squad. A keen amateur runner, she ran the London Marathon from 1995 to 2000, with a personal best of 2 hours and 57 minutes. Craig also competed in triathlon in 2000-01 but whilst training for a World Championship age group qualifying race in May 2001, she was hit by a car while cycling that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She said that she spent 21 weeks in the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital and a further six months convalescing at home before returning to work on the Flying Squad in April 2002. She remarked that this was in fact the turning moment in her life. She said she never thought that her disability was the end of her life. “In fact I continued with more vigor, determination and perseverance,” she said. She continued her achievements in sports despite the fact she was now confined to a wheelchair. In June 2002 Paula completed the Pembrokeshire Olympic Distance Triathlon (1,500 meters sea swim, 40 km hand cycle, 10 km run) and 10 days later completed the Bournemouth Olympic Distance Triathlon. In August 2002 she competed at the Triathlon World Championship in Cancun, Mexico, winning a gold medal. She went on to compete at both the 2003 and 2005 World Championships, winning the gold medal in both. Craig also competed in the 2003 and 2004 London Marathons, attaining 3rd and 2nd position respectively. Her determination and tenacity was rewarded with the Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration at the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year awards. She surprised the audience when she told them that she is a detective inspector at the London Metropolitan Police. Despite being in a wheelchair, she was promoted to detective sergeant in 2003 and later to detective inspector in 2005. In Craig's opinion, being able to maintain her professional career is testament to how far the police has moved on in its management of and approach to disability. She was also awarded an MBE for her services to the police in 2005. She said her achievements should serve as an inspiration to young and old disabled patients who considered their disabilities as equivalent to not being able to do and achieve anything. Craig said she was an example that life does not end when you are confined to a wheelchair. She also listened to the questions and accounts of many disabled patients under treatment at the city, mostly young Saudis. Craig answered each one of them and motivated them all to carry on with their lives like normal people. Earlier, the CEO of Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City, Abdullah Bin Zarrah, in his welcome address claimed that a disabled person is not one who has any physical disability, but those who do not make the most of their abilities. He said: “People who lose hope become disabled. Paula is an example before all of us. “She was a great athlete when she was not disabled and she continued to perform even when she was confined to a wheelchair.” He also said that he has “great respect” for those who inspire others. “I should say here that those who inspire others are in fact super-able people.” The event was conducted by Abeer Al-Fouti, director of education and staff development. The event concluded with Zarrah presenting a painting to Craig. An official from the British Embassy presented to Zarrah a relay race baton from the London Olympics last year. Craig also toured the hospital complex, made a round of the rehabilitation department and talked to patients.
