Ben Fai Lankshear – a world-class sportsman and passionate advocate

Ben Fai is an amazing sportsman and a model of hard work and dedication. He is a professional cyclist (road, track and mountain bike!), plays cricket, football, snooker, pool and does Pilates and martial arts.

Last year, through a very competitive selection process, Ben earned a place representing Great Britain as a cyclist at the 2023 Special Olympics in Berlin. Having previously competed in the 2018 games where he won a gold and two silver medals, Ben was nervous but incredibly excited to represent his country again in a sport he adores.

He trained hard and even learned some basic German so he could speak to the locals and make the most of his trip. Ben was over the moon to walk away with a bronze and a team silver medal, and celebrated Team GB’s success with a visit to 10 Downing Street.

Ben’s success hasn’t come without hard work. He rides almost every Sunday with his cycling group who represent the South East. Most rides normally range from 30-50km and they persevere in all weather. Once every two to three months, the group rides on a cycle track, which Ben loves as they go much faster.

But cycling isn’t the only sport Ben has mastered. He currently plays football for the Surrey Hawks and is club captain of the cricket team, Merstham Magics. He has a black belt 4th Dan in Choi, a form of martial arts. He also works at the YMCA where he volunteers at the gym, helping other use the equipment and become as passionate as he is.

In total, Ben has earned 22 medals so far, including ones for cycling, cricket, and athletics.

He’s proud to see the Special Olympics starting to gain more recognition like the Paralympics, but thinks there should be opportunities for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to take part in sports.

And if that wasn’t enough to earn him a place on this year’s Leaders’ List, Ben is also a passionate self-advocate.

As someone with Down ’s syndrome, he works as an expert-by-experience and quality checker in a self and peer advocacy group called Unity, part of Achieve Together. He makes sure that the people supported by Achieve Together are equal partners in making decisions about their support, and particularly enjoys acting in the role play videos they put together.

With Ben’s achievements, he inspires other people to reach for their goals and challenges assumptions often made about people with learning disabilities. His support worker, Wayne, who has worked with Ben for the past eight years, says:

“Ben is an inspiration. There’s not a day of the week where he’s not busy doing something. I love his attitude, always wanting to try this and that, always looking for something new to try.”

Ben also has a heart of gold. Just before the Berlin Special Olympics, Wayne’s wife sadly passed away. When Ben returned from the games, he dedicated his medal to Wayne’s wife.