Jaco van Gass

Jaco van Gass is a Paralympic champion, world record holder, and British Armed Forces veteran whose story of resilience and achievement continues to inspire audiences worldwide. A 4x Paralympic gold medallist and 11x world champion cyclist, Jaco has defied the limits of human endurance as a skier, mountaineer, and polar explorer. Born in South Africa, Jaco moved to the United Kingdom at twenty to join the elite Parachute Regiment. During his second tour of Afghanistan in 2009, he sustained life-changing injuries. Refusing to be defined by these challenges, he rebuilt his life with extraordinary determination, becoming a first-class athlete and adventurer. He has skied, run marathons, climbed Mt Denali, and trekked to the North Pole alongside Prince Harry. Jaco joined the GB Para-Cycling Team, where he went on to achieve global success, including four Paralympic gold medals, one bronze, and multiple world records at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games. His 2022 memoir, Unequivocal, chronicles his journey through recovery, sport, and rediscovery of purpose. Today, Jaco is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, addressing audiences across business, education, and charity sectors. Blending humility, humour, and candour, he shares practical lessons on resilience, adaptability, leadership, and high performance drawn from both the battlefield and elite sport. His story challenges assumptions about limitation and capability, leaving audiences with a renewed sense of purpose and perspective. Book Jaco to inspire your organisation to overcome setbacks, embrace change, and pursue excellence against all odds.