Saturday August 16, 2025 saw close to 5,000 people descend on Dorney Lake to enjoy the thrill of Superhero Tri, powered by Marvel – the world’s only grassroots disability sports event. People came from far wide, including participants from the Highlands in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and even South Africa.
Now in its ninth year, Superhero Tri is the world’s only mass participation event exclusively for people with disabilities. Providing a unique platform which puts their needs front and centre, ‘Everyday Superheroes’ lined up alongside Paralympians and disabled role models to take on the three-stage course in a choice of three distances. Some flew solo and took on all three stages – swim, cycle and push/run – but most shared the fun with Sidekick teammates who helped tow, push and pull them around the course.
Enjoying their first-ever Superhero Tri were Paralympic, World and European table tennis champion Will Bayley, Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth swimming champion Maisie Summers-Newton MBE.
Among those travelling long distance to take part this year were 14-year-old twins Caleb and Callistus Armstrong from Enniskillen, 11-year-old Sienna and her family from Swansea, 22-year-old Poppy from Inverness and renowned DJ Kabila aka Siyanda Makanya, 47, who flew in from Pretoria, South Africa to enjoy the legendary event.
“There’s something magical when you put together a team of mixed abilities and everyone supports each other round the course and crosses the finish line together,” says Jayne Armstrong, mum to 14-year-old twins Caleb and Callistus who both have cerebral palsy. “We travel from home in Enniskillen to take part and have done so since 2018,” says Jayne. “It’s a fantastic family day out with my daughter Laura, cousins and carers coming along to lend support and take part. I love the fact there’s something for everyone to enjoy and we feel part of the Superhero Series family.”
Sienna, 11, has a six-hour round trip from her home in Swansea to participate in the Superhero Tri. She has now done the event four times and this year had the great honour of being presented with a Golden Cape for her determination and motivation “We love the positive and uplifting atmosphere of Superhero Tri and appreciate the wonderful opportunity for Sienna to be surrounded by people just like her,” explains Jo Allen-Chaplin, Sienna’s mother. “This year, Sienna led a celebrity team with Paralympian Maisie Summers-Newton and TV comedian Alex Brooker. She did the 3k bike ride and I joined as her Sidekick. Straight after that, she took part in the Wheelchair Basketball showcase so it was a super busy day for her.”
Dedicated to the UK’s 16.1 million people with disabilities*, Superhero Tri removes all barriers to participation and allows people to take as long as they want and use whatever adaptive super kit, gadgets and gizmos they need. Powered by Marvel, many people dress up as their favourite superhero making the event a sight to behold.
Poppy Morrison, 22, travelled over 1,000 miles from her home in Inverness with her mum, aunt and family friend Sidekicks to take part in her first Superhero Tri. They came down by train but flew home. “Superhero Tri is a fantastic opportunity that allows me to enjoy two of my favourite sports, swimming and cycling, push my limits and achieve something that I never knew would be possible” says Poppy.
“I feel like the Superhero Tri has gone above and beyond to make things accessible, bring people with disabilities together and form a supportive community. I want to learn from this!” says Siyanda Makanya from South Africa, who campaigns for disabled people’s accessibility rights and uses the motto “The impossible is merely the untried.”
Alongside the 15 consecutive waves of people setting off around the course, other highlights of the day included a Golden Caping Ceremony in which Clare Balding CBE awarded seven inspiring young participants the prestigious Golden Cape for their resilience, spirit and fundraising feats. A range of activities brought further fun including the Marvel Avengers Training Initiative that unleashed people’s inner superpowers, a Wheelchair Basketball showcase game and Wheelchair Rugby training sessions and showcase match delivered by the Berkshire Banshees
“Every year I’m inspired by the effort people put into shaping their team, sourcing supportive gadgets and pulling together to get round the course,” says Sophia Warner, Paralympian and founder of the Superhero Tri. “I’m also moved to know how far people will travel to be part of the day. It just goes to show what people can do when given the opportunity. Of course, another reason they will travel for hours is because we are the only mass-participation grassroots sports event centred on people with disabilities.
“Superhero Tri is powered by Marvel and people love to take on one of their superhero characters and channel the feeling of having a superpower,” continues Sophia. “Giving people with a disability the chance to show the amazing things they can do sums up the day perfectly!”
“We are so proud to support Superhero Tri powered by Marvel, seeing so many people embracing their inner superhero on Saturday at an event enjoyed in such a fun, inclusive and celebratory way,” says Deborah Armstrong, Country Manager for UK & Ireland, The Walt Disney Company. “It’s part of our commitment to creating moments that matter inspired by our incredible stories and characters.”
Super Supporters
Supporting the Superhero Tri headline partner Disney are partners DHL, E.ON, Everyone Active, Invacare, Pfizer, Salutem, Staysure and Swim England whose invaluable support make Superhero Tri possible.
See the highlights
The 2025 highlights, hosted by Clare Balding, will be broadcast on Channel 4 at 0915 on Sunday August 31,, 2025.
Next event
Everyday Superheroes are invited to return to Dorney Lake for the Superhero Series winter event, Winter Wonderwheels where people can walk, wheel or run around three scenic lakeside distances: 1km, 5km & 10km.
Find out more and enter here: https://superheroseries.co.uk/winter-wonderwheels-2025
