Pioneering Paralympian given new medal 62 years later

Pictures from British Paralympic Association (BPA)

Susan, Baroness Masham of Ilton became one of Great Britain’s first-ever Paralympic champions when she won the 25m breaststroke class 2 title at the inaugural 1960 Roma Games in Italy.

However, later that day she joined team-mates for a celebratory meal and managed to misplace her precious gold medal.

62-years later the British Paralympic Association (BPA) have awarded Baroness Masham, now 87, with a replacement after painstaking research into an appropriate design.

“It’s really wonderful to have my medal again because I never thought I would see it again” she said after the ceremony. “I would like to thank everyone involved.

“What happened was we went out for dinner at a restaurant by the Trevi Fountain. I showed someone the medal and I think I put it down the side of my chair and when I got back it had disappeared.”

Baroness Masham was born in Scotland in 1935, but suffered a spinal cord injury in the late 1950’s when a horse she was riding fell and rolled on top of her.

Her rehabilitation took place at Stoke Mandeville, widely known as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement due to pioneering doctor Sir Ludwig Guttmann, who revolutionised the treatment and life chances for those with spinal injuries.

In addition to her breaststroke gold, she would also claim 25m backstroke silver and bronze in the women’s doubles table tennis event.

Further medals would follow at 1964 and 1968 Games.

“I met Ludwig Guttmann while I was recovering from my injury at Stoke Mandeville – he started the sports movement for the paralysed and he said if people can compete in sport then they can compete in everyday life,” she recalled.

“It’s amazing how the Paralympic movement has changed – it’s marvellous to think how it has spread around the world. It’s made all the difference to people’s lives.”

Lady Masham became Baroness Masham of Ilton in 1970 and is the longest serving female peer in the House of Lords where she remains a passionate campaigner on disability rights.

In 1974 she founded the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) and remains President to this day.

Upon recently being made aware of her story BPA Chair, Nick Webborn, intervened to commission an exact replica for Sue Masham.

“There is no better example of our vision: ‘to inspire a better world for disabled people’ than you,” stated Webborn.

“Today we recognise someone who has done more than most around social impact and demonstrating how our former Paralympians have such powerful stories to tell.

“It was amazing to think about how you continued to support people who were newly injured and it seemed only right that we should, for that kindness you gave me and so many others, see if we could replace your medal.”

The medal was recreated by a goldsmiths, Ursae Ltd in a complex process involving scanning in a Rome 1960 silver medal, capturing the textures of the original, which was 3D printed, then cast into silver and plated with a generous helping of gold.