At the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Nissan Ambassador and double Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead MBE set a new Guinness World Record for a double amputee by finishing the famous 26.2-mile course in an incredible 2h 41m 36s.
In doing so, he broke his own record of 2h 42m 01s, a time he set just six months ago at the TCS London Marathon.
The achievement is testament to Richard’s incredible strength and determination, but also to his meticulous preparation: after setting the previous record in April 2024, he felt confident he could go even faster and so embarked on a mission to optimise every aspect of his training in the run-up to Chicago.
Richard left no stone unturned in his quest to ‘Defy Ordinary’ in what would be his 80th marathon, and since he drives a Nissan ARIYA day-to-day – including to and from his training sessions – he naturally questioned if his car could be further adapted to support his goal.
That’s the kind of challenge that fires the imagination, so Nissan GB turned to the engineers at the Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE), Luzzo Bespoke and Össur, provider of Richard’s carbon-fibre running prosthetics and prosthetic walking legs, to help customise Richard’s ARIYA.
Their solution was a combination of clever modifications that still allowed Richard to use the car as everyday transport.
Firstly, Nissan worked with Richard and Luzzo Bespoke to design a bespoke training support module that neatly fits into the boot of Richard’s ARIYA. Using engineering CAD data to ensure a perfect fit, the team created a removable storage system that:
- Safely stores Richard’s Össur running prosthetics, tools, spare clothing and running gels – plus a compact coffee machine to deliver an early morning caffeine kick.
- Includes an inverter and plug sockets to enable Richard to recharge his phone or watch, plug in a laptop for reviewing training data, and which also power the coffee machine.
- Features a unique hidden swing-out seat for Richard to sit on while changing his prosthetics before and after each session, which is upholstered to match the blue Nappa leather interior of his ARIYA.
Secondly, Nissan worked with Richard and leading global prosthetics provider Össur to integrate small quick-release magnetic chargers into the ARIYA’s driver’s seat, so that he can keep the ‘bionic knees’ of his Össur walking prosthetics topped up with energy while he’s driving.
Sarah Dorey from NTCE said: “As Nissan engineers, we’ve loved this challenge of finding ways to support Richard on his epic marathon challenge. We’re continually looking at ways to make our vehicles more inclusive and accessible, so it’s been interesting to consider how we can make life as an amputee easier day-to-day when driving them.
“Collaborating with Össur’s engineering team in Iceland, we found a simple, easy-to-use solution that meets Richard’s needs as well as all the vital safety criteria. It’s incredible to know that in a small way we’ve helped him set a new Guinness World Record.”
Hildur Einarsdottir, Executive Vice President of R&D at Össur, said: “Huge congratulations to Richard on this incredible achievement. Össur has supported Richard with running prosthetics since 2004, and we are thrilled they’ve helped him set another new Guinness World Record.”
Anything is possible
Richard Whitehead said: “It’s an amazing feeling to have set a new Guinness World Record in Chicago, and I’m very thankful to my family and sponsors for their support. My mantra is ‘believe achieve’ and I wanted to show people that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
“I was confident I could go even faster than in London, but I knew that my preparation had to be perfect, so it’s been fantastic to have Nissan and Össur supporting me on this project.
“I already love driving my Nissan ARIYA, but when you’re going for a record it’s all about marginal gains and the new adaptations undoubtedly helped me get a little more out of every training session. It’s great to see Nissan continually looking for ways to make its vehicles work better for the disability community.”
