Pembroke's Golden Ale legacy rolls Into Delhi as GB captain hunts another crown

Dan Pembroke after winning gold at the Paralympics in Paris last summer. Photo credit: imagecomms

--

Dan Pembroke is hoping to brew up another gold medal-winning storm at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi this week.

The Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow Athletics Club javelin star, 31, is the two-time defending champion in the global showpiece having also won a pair of Paralympic golds in both Paris and Tokyo.

But away from the sport, Pembroke is an avid home brewer who has been experimenting with an innovative selection of beverages since the build-up to the Games last summer.

Inspired by his coach John Trowerto ‘visualise’ glory, Pembroke worked with Siren Craft Brewery in Wokingham to create a pale ale called ‘Paris Gold’, which he duly ended up celebrating with after grabbing another Paralympic gold.

Next on the agenda is West Coast IPA for the Games in Los Angeles in 2028 but first, Pembroke heads to India as the captain of Britain’s 30-strong team of athletes, a role he also played in France last summer.

Speaking from the pre-championships training camp ahead of his event next weekend, Pembroke said: “To know that my team have voted me in again is a huge honour – I hope I did well for them in Paris.

“This season has shaped up how I’ve wanted it to – I’m in a good place at the moment.

“Last year was the pinnacle of my career – setting two world records in one night and getting the gold medal.

“Athletics and brewing beer is a bit unusual – but sometimes you’ve got to do that to turn heads.

“It was all about manifesting what I wanted and visualising.

“What better way to do it than visualise the celebration at the end of it?

“I’m only going to celebrate with a beer, so why not make that beer?

“As an avid home brewer, Paris Gold, just went on and on.

“To raise a glass of Paris Gold at the end – it was another manifestation that came true, and to toast the team with that was amazing.

“The beer is basically a vehicle for the wider world around us more inclusive for people with visual impairments, because it’s currently not.

“I’m hoping this beer story can power me forward and put me in more conversations.”

The event in New Delhi got underway this weekend, with former Paralympic champion Hollie Arnold winning Britain’s first medal in the F46 javelin on Saturday morning.

But Pembroke will have to wait until the following weekend to kickstart his quest for a hat-trick of global crowns, with his F13 javelin one of the final events to take place.

Pembroke admits he found it difficult to summon the hunger post-Paris but is now back firing on all cylinders after a rock-solid season.

“When a dream comes true to the absolutely finest detail – it’s difficult to find hunger after that,” he added.

“But you have to be ready to do that – I got that hunger back, it kicked in and I wanted to push the world record further.

“That fire in my belly is there, the mission has started and I’ve got a really good team behind me.

“I can’t wait to hopefully put a big throw out there in Delhi and celebrate with my team.”

Novuna is the Official Finance Partner of British Athletics and proud sponsor of the GB & NI Athletics Team. From everyday goals to world-class dreams, Novuna helps millions across the UK – backing British businesses, supporting individuals’ plans, and supporting British Athletics on the global stage. Find out more at www.novuna.co.uk