Great Britain’s Sue Maughan has been confirmed as a World Para Athletics International Technical Official (WPA ITO) for the next four-year cycle (2023-2026).

One of the highest-ranked officials in world athletics, Maughan began her officiating journey at university, following in the footsteps of her parents.

Primarily a field judge, she achieved a lifetime ambition when she was selected to officiate at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Additional career highlights include her role as field referee at the European Para Championships in Swansea (2014); working at the World Athletics Championships (as chief long jump judge) and World Para Athletics Championships (across multiple events) in London 2017; and operating as lead judge and combined events referee respectively at the World Indoors in Birmingham 2018 and European Indoors in Glasgow 2019.

Most recently, she was the National Technical Delegate at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (2022) and competition director at the British Indoor Championships (2023).

Maughan – who is also a qualified track judge and starters’ assistant – was added to the WPA ITO panel following her successful completion of a training course and examinations in Santiago, Chile in December.

Chris Moss, UKA’s Development Director, said: “Sue’s appointment is fantastic news. From a governing body perspective, we are committed to supporting a pathway that supports officials within a UK wide system, as well as creating international development opportunities. Sue’s progress and success, within World Para Athletics specifically, means that she joins five other technical officials (Jon Mason, Dave Jessett, Shona Malcolm, Margaret Werrett and Tony Shaw) achieving WPA ITO status. All of this activity aligns with our strategic priorities and reflects the progress we are making. It is also evidence of the knowledge and talent we have across officiating in this country, reinforcing the fact that UKA’s officials are the best in the world.”

Maughan was one of 25 officials from around the world to go to Chile. Her attendance was supported by UKA and included classroom sessions prior to sitting an exam. As part of their practical assessment, the visiting officials also acted as referees for the national technical officials for the Chilean Para National Championships – a precursor to the Parapan American Games that will take place in Santiago in November.

She said: “I had an amazing experience in Chile. It’s been a target for us to increase the number of world qualified level officials, and my own ambition has always been to reach international level. Getting to another Paralympics as an international judge or to the World Champs as an international official is just the next level up for me, really. I’m always up for a new challenge and I’ll put myself forward for whatever I can get my hands on.”

She has many special athletics memories, but London 2012 is particularly memorable. “When I go back to the Olympic Stadium, it feels like going home,” she said. “I remember being in the middle of the arena watching the discus being thrown, while behind us Jess Ennis was running her 800m…just being there and hearing that noise going round the stadium will always stay with me, and it was replicated in 2017 at the World Champs/World Para Champs.”

Maughan is also one of five UK Technical Officials who has achieved and progressed under the new World Athletics Referee Education and Certification System (WARECS), qualifying at Bronze Level. Continuing her progress on the domestic scene and internationally, she will return to the London Stadium as Competition Director for the Diamond League this summer.