About
Talan Skeels-Piggins is a Double World Champion, European Champion, National Champion and Winter Paralympian, recognised across the UK and internationally for his remarkable achievements. As the world’s first paraplegic athlete to hold both motorcycle and car race licences, Talan has dedicated his life to exceeding expectations and inspiring audiences worldwide. With over twelve years of public speaking experience, he is a sought-after inspirational and motivational speaker for events across the UK, Europe and globally.
Paralysed from the chest down in 2003, Talan was previously an active PE teacher and a serving Lieutenant in the Royal Navy Reserves. Just eight days after becoming paralysed, he set himself a goal: to learn to ski, join the National Team, and represent Great Britain at the 2010 Winter Paralympics. Seven years later, he achieved exactly that—becoming Britain’s top-placed male skier in the Giant Slalom and Super-G at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games. The following season he won the opening Super-G race of the Europa Cup, ultimately becoming European Champion in the discipline.
On 21 June 2012, Talan made history as the first paraplegic to race a motorcycle in an able-bodied competition—a groundbreaking achievement that reshaped the sport. In 2015 he became World Champion in the 600cc category for Paraplegic Motorcycle Racers, winning the title again in 2018 in the International Bridgestone Handy Race series. He is also the first paraplegic Motorcycle Race Instructor, and the first to hold both motorcycle and car race licences, competing in the 2016 Porsche Club Championships.
In 2006, Talan won a landmark ruling by becoming the first paraplegic retained in the Royal Navy on active service, later serving with NATO at HQ Northwood, where he oversaw Navigational Safety during major maritime exercises. This ruling opened the door for more disabled service personnel to continue their careers in the Armed Forces.
Diversifying beyond high-speed sport, Talan took up archery and went on to become the 2021 British Masters Barebow Champion—an able-bodied competition—and the Surrey County Barebow Champion, also holding several county records. He now competes in yacht racing and clay pigeon shooting alongside able-bodied athletes across the UK.
In recognition of his extraordinary achievements, Talan has received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Warwick, an Honorary Masters from the University of Chichester, was named BANES Sports Personality of the Year, carried the Olympic Torch during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, and took part in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Flame Relay, escorting the flame beneath the English Channel.
