Ian James Marsden (born 25 January 1972 in Stafford[1]) is a British paracanoeist, hand cyclist and was previously a champion powerlifter.

[4][5] Before sustaining a spinal injury, Marsden competed as a non-disabled athlete at the British Open Powerlifting Championships, and titled in 1989 when he was 17.

[6] After the spinal injury, he became the "first British male to win a podium position"[7] on the European Handcycling Circuit (EHC).

[3] Marsden sustained a spinal injury powerlifting, which caused his hospitalisation and eventually introducing him to the world of handcycling.

However, after competing on the European circuit for a number of years, Marsden was once again hospitalised, and it was discovered that he had a rare motor neuron condition.