John Harris (wheelchair athlete)

John Harris, born in 1945, is a former Paralympic athlete from Wales who competed mainly in category 5 throwing events. In 1984 he became the world record holder in the discus, winning gold at the Summer Paralympics, and four years later he won silver in the discus and bronze in the pentathlon. He was born in Sebastopol, Torfaen, a suburb of Pontypool in south Wales, and as a youth was involved in gymnastics, rugby union and boxing. Before his final attempt in 1984 he sat in sixth place, but his Paralympic record breaking throw gave him the gold medal. In 1986 he joined his training partner and friend Chris Hallam.