British Paralympian Lyndon Longhorne, a quadruple amputee and meningitis survivor, recently took a break from his pursuit of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games for a whirlwind visit to Portugal’s Algarve, where he delivered a poignant talk at a private event.
The swimmer and motivational speaker shared his personal story, providing a powerful finale to a successful inaugural Algarve Business Mastery retreat held earlier this month [/ in January], mentored by renowned property expert and Ideal Homes International/Portugal founder Chris White.
The five-day event, held in Almancil, welcomed a small and diverse group of international entrepreneurs and covered various aspects of business and personal growth.
Despite a demanding schedule, Lyndon made a flying 48-hour trip to the Algarve to wrap up the retreat, receiving resounding applause.
Lyndon’s journey is one of resilience, having overcome the physical challenges of losing limbs to meningitis as a baby. Introduced to the pool at a young age by his grandparents and inspired by the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, he propelled his love of swimming to the next level through determination and dedication.
He took part in his first national championship at the age of 16 and was an Olympic torchbearer for London 2012. After narrowly missing out on selection for the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympics, Lyndon decided to take a break from competitive swimming.
That was until the birth of his daughter in 2018.
“I introduced my daughter to the water and it reignited the flame. That’s what motivated me to get back in the pool, get back in shape, and try again”, he shares.
This reignited passion propelled Lyndon to Tokyo 2020(1) and the Madeira 2022 World Para Swimming Championships. Reflecting, he says, “Tokyo was an amazing atmosphere. It was incredible to go out there, represent my country and say look, I’ve done this. But the hunger was there for more.”
His focus is firmly set on Paris 2024.
Lyndon excels in sports and is a talented web designer and sought-after public speaker, delivering motivational talks to establishments in the UK and beyond.
The roots of Chris White and Lyndon’s collaboration trace back nearly a decade, having been introduced in the Algarve by a mutual acquaintance and former Dragon’s Den star Duncan Bannantyne.
The pair’s close friendship has spanned years and continents, leading to travel and participation in events globally. Last year, the duo also created a joint web-design venture launched in February, and is planning an awareness-raising documentary.
Reflecting on his journey, and the “crazy past few months,” Lyndon emphasises the importance of a positive attitude and mindset.
“All the way through life, I’ve always been taught it’s a positive attitude that gets you through things. Having a can-do attitude will drive you forward in life. I’ve always seen it as let’s just tackle every obstacle that’s thrown in my way,” he shares, adding: “For me, resilience matters more than anything. Consistency is key. That determination to just keep showing up.”
Chris White, founder and CEO of Ideal Homes Portugal, who triumphed over dyslexia and ADHD to build his own successful enterprise, sees Lyndon as a true inspiration.
He comments, “This retreat was an opportunity not only to share valuable experience and knowledge but also for everyone to have fun and learn from each other. Having Lyndon come over was the cherry on the cake.
“He’s not just an amazing swimmer, but he’s also an amazing and inspiring guy. And he’s hilarious. We can’t wait to cheer him on in Paris.”
For more information, visit:
Media Contact
Company Name: Chris White
Contact Person: Rissa
Email: Send Email
City: Quarteira
Country: Portugal
Website: www.chriswhite.com