Marc Woods

Marc Woods is a British former swimmer, who competed at five Paralympic Games, (Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004) winning 12 medals.[1][2]

For other people with similar names, see Mark Woods.
Marc Woods
Personal information
Nationality Great Britain
WebsiteMarcWoods.com
Sport
SportSwimming
Medal record
Men's para swimming
Representing  Great Britain
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul 4 × 100 m freestyle relay A–L
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul 4 × 100 m medley relay A–L
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney 4×100 m freestyle 34 pts
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens 4x100 m freestyle 34 pts
Silver medal – second place 1988 Seoul 4 × 50 m medley relay A1–A8
Silver medal – second place 1992 Barcelona 100 m backstroke S10
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta 100 m backstroke S10
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta 4x100 m Medley S7-10
Silver medal – second place 2000 Sydney 4×100 m medley 34 pts
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Seoul 4 × 50 m freestyle relay A1–A8
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Seoul 100 m backstroke A4
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta 400 m freestyle S10

Early life

Born in Cleethorpes on the 1st February 1969 Marc Patrick Woods is the son of Maurice and Patricia Woods. A swimmer at county-level, Marc was diagnosed with an osteosarcoma as a teenager. Aged 17, he had his left foot amputated as a result of the cancer and underwent intensive chemotherapy at the Western Park Hospital in Sheffield. Following his amputation, the day after having his stitches removed, he returned to the pool coaches by his father. Within a year, he was swimming faster times with one foot than he previously had with two, and just 18 months after he finished his chemotherapy he was selected to represent Great Britain at the Seoul Paralympics.[1][2]

Sporting career

Woods subsequently competed at European & World Championships and Paralympic Games. He was coached by three coaches over his career. Initially his father whilst he lived at home, then Doug Campbell at Barnet Coptahll Swimming Club and Millfield School and then finally with Lars Humer at the Manchester Aquatic Centre. In his 17 years of competition he won 12 Paralympic medals from five Paralympic Games held in Seoul, Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, and four of those medals being gold.[3] Woods also won a further 21 medals from European and World Championships.[1][4]

Corporate career

After he retired from international swimming in 2004, he went on to commentate for both BBC Sport and Channel4 at the Paralympics in Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo. At the same time he developed a successful consultancy business delivering team effectiveness solutions and executive coaching. Woods has delivered leadership solutions for many organizations such as the RBS, Barclays, IBM, Adidas, GSK, John Lewis Partnership, etc.[2][5] He also travels extensively keynote addresses as a motivational speaker.[6]

Not for Profit Work

Personal life

Woods married Petra Karina Markell in 2008 and has a daughter Evie Clementine and a son Harry Maurice. Once retired from swimming he embarked on a series of new challenges such as developing mountaineering skills by trekking on Nepal, Ecuador and Peru. He also climbed the world's highest volcano Cotopaxi in Ecuador, Mont Pelvoux part of the Massif des Ecrins in France and the 22,200 ft Mera Peak in Nepal.[6]

Accomplishments
  • Ambassador for London 2012 Olympics
  • Member of the British Paralympic Advisory Panel for London 2012 Games
  • Honorary Doctorate by Middlesex University
  • Freeman of the City of London
  • Honorary Citizen of Pensacola – Florida

Publications
  • "Personal Best: 10 life lessons to help you discover the real you", 2005 [7]
  • "Where do all the paper clips go?....and 127 other business and career conundrums", 2007 (co-authored with Steve Coomber)
  • "Personal Best: How to Achieve your Full Potential (2nd Edition)", 2011[8]
  • "Beyond the Call: Why some of your team go the extra mile and other don't show", 2013 (co-authored with Steve Coomber)

References
  1. "About Marc". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  2. "JLA Marc Woods Paralympic Gold Medallist". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  3. "Marc Woods - Swimming | Paralympic Athlete Profile". paralympic.org. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  4. A Davies, Gareth (2 December 2011). "British Paralympic medal winner Marc Woods races to the South Pole in fundraiser". The Telegraph. The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  5. "Testimonials". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. "Marc Woods - Challenge of a lifetime". All About Health. All About Health. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  7. Woods, Marc (2005). Personal Best: 10 life lessons to help you discover the real you. Chichester: Capstone. ISBN 978-1841126920.
  8. Woods, Marc (2011). Personal Best: how to achieve your full potential (2nd rev. ed.). Chichester: Capstone. ISBN 978-0857082664.

Further reading
  1. English Federation of Disability Sport, World Cancer Day: Two swimmers' stories
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