Paralympic athlete challenging big brands over selling single shoes _ BBC News

BBC NEWS

The day before Stef Reid's 16th birthday, severe propeller lacerations from a horrific boat accident left doctors with no choice but to amputate her right foot.   She went on to become a world champion Paralympic long jumper and sprinter.   But now, Stef is campaigning for big brands such as Nike, Adidas and Puma to sell single shoes rather than pairs.   It's in part about cost - high-end running shoes cost around £200, and when she was competing she only needed one but had to buy two.   But her biggest motivation is the principle - many of the big brands proudly display models with blades in their shop windows, but don't sell shoes individually for athletes like Stef.

Transcript

00:00Now, a former para-athletic world champion is leading a campaign to change the way sports footwear companies sell shoes.

00:08Steph Reid had her foot amputated after a boat accident and went on to become a world champion Paralympic long jumper and sprinter.

00:17Well, now she's calling on major brands to sell single shoes as well as pairs to cut costs for amputees

00:23and ensure that brands match their inclusive marketing with genuine action.

00:27My right foot was amputated, which means I now use a prosthetic leg.

00:33And in my daily life, you will see me walking around with two shoes apart from when I am running or playing sports

00:39because I wear a very cool carbon fiber blade.

00:43Running blades like mine are springy and light, and they let me run faster than a traditional prosthesis.

00:49And I've used one throughout my Paralympic career.

00:51And it means I only actually need a left shoe.

00:55But it is almost impossible to find a manufacturer or retailer willing to sell just a single shoe.

01:03I love the bladed mannequins, and I wish 15-year-old Steph had seen those.

01:08But now I want retailers to match their inclusive imagery with the actual buying experience.

01:14Well, that is Steph Reid.

01:18I'm joined now by Luke Tarrant, an adventurer who had to have his left leg amputated

01:22after a motorcycle crash in Colombia in May last year.

01:26Thanks so much for being with us.

01:28So this campaign for the footwear companies to sell shoes in singles rather than pairs,

01:40is this something that has affected you or others you know as yet?

01:45Yeah, so my amputation was only one year ago, so I've not quite got back to running yet.

01:49And I actually do currently use two shoes because my prosthetic isn't a blade.

01:54It's just a sort of basic prosthetic.

01:56So I do put a shoe on it.

01:57However, I know many amputees who use running blades and just have, in my case, it would

02:02be a left shoe, but one shoe they never use.

02:05It's a bit of a waste.

02:06And also, I think it just, as was just mentioned on that video, nowadays companies want to seem

02:13incredibly inclusive.

02:14And they put these mannequins up and make it look like they're here for people who have

02:18disabilities.

02:19And I just think it's important that if they're showing that message out there, they should

02:23sort of behave in the same way.

02:25So I'm completely on board with what she's saying, despite the fact I haven't yet needed

02:29to use a running blade, but I will do hopefully soon.

02:32And we're just seeing some of your Instagram posts, I think, on the screen there.

02:38Just tell us about, obviously, it must have been terrible to have this accident, but it

02:45hasn't stopped you, clearly.

02:47No, it happened just over a year ago.

02:49And I've tried to sort of almost pretend that it's not happened and carry on pushing myself

02:54to do all the things I was doing before, and in some cases more.

02:56But I think I'm slowly coming to grips with the fact that I do now have a disability, which

03:01is limiting me in some ways.

03:04And it's just about finding ways around it.

03:05And I mean, right now I'm sat here at home with my leg off because I've got a bit of skin

03:10which just won't heal where my prosthetic takes its way.

03:13So it's a process and it takes time.

03:15But yeah, I'm hoping over time it will get easier.

03:19But I'm only a year down the road at the moment.

03:21And just tell us about some of the adventures that you've had, despite all that.

03:26So, I mean, I did my accident on a motorbike.

03:31I was travelling from the US down to the southern tip of South America.

03:35So my new plan is to kind of get back on the bike.

03:38But since then, I've taken up mountaineering.

03:40I was meant to be climbing a mountain a couple of months ago, which had never been climbed

03:43before.

03:44I had a bit of an issue in Kyrgyzstan, which is where the climb is meant to be.

03:47But I've done all the activities, which I like to do before.

03:50Kayaking, I've been on paddle boards.

03:52I've taken up cycling again.

03:53So I'm getting back to everything.

03:54But it's like doing everything again for the first time.

03:57It's sort of like I've been reborn.

03:59And now I'm trying to do everything I did before for the first time again.

04:02Where do you get your optimism, Gene?

04:04And can we all have some, please?

04:05Do you know what?

04:07I'm having to really rely on it today while I'm sat here without my prosthetic on.

04:10I find that when I can wear my leg, I'm happy.

04:13I'm good.

04:13Things are great.

04:14When I can't wear my prosthetic, I really notice that my life's changed.

04:18I have to hop around on crutches.

04:19Even this morning, I tried to hop into the shower and I slipped on the water on the floor

04:23and hit my head on the wall.

04:24So it's one of those things that there's continual tough moments and annoying points that come

04:30up.

04:30But over time, you kind of get used to the down days and then use them to fuel next time

04:36you realise, right, I've got through that day in the past.

04:39This day is not as bad as that one.

04:40I'll get through this too.

04:41And that's kind of how I'm trying to view my life now because it is ups and downs.

04:45But it's the same for anyone, whether you've got one leg or two, to be honest.

04:48Do you dwell on the crash itself and when you do, what does go through your mind?

04:57Well, I don't remember what actually happened in my crash.

05:00So I don't think about the crash itself.

05:03The thing I do dwell on, and I actually was sort of journaling this morning thinking about

05:07it, is the things which I was able to do really easily before.

05:11I've just been on a family holiday for a week with my parents and it's the first one

05:15since my crash and I was just constantly thinking, what would I do right now if I had

05:19both my legs?

05:21I'd be, you know, I'd be going for a run.

05:22I'd be climbing up that mountain.

05:24I'd be going for an explore down the beach, jumping in the sea.

05:26And I still try and do those things, but it just is harder than it was.

05:31And that is what I struggle with.

05:32It's the, it's just comparing life before to now.

05:36But I wouldn't say I dwell on it.

05:37It's just an awareness that life is different.

05:40But at the same time, it could be a lot worse and I might not be here if my leg was

05:44Tarrant, thank you so much for talking to us.

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