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Ade Adepitan On The Importance Of The Paralympics

August 2, 2011
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LONDON 2012 is a year away – and that includes the Paralympic Games.

Wheelchair basketball player Ade Adepitan MBE was a member of the bronze medal winning Great Britain team at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.

Here the BBC One advert star tells us why the Paralympics are so crucial.

I CONTRACTED polio when I was six months old and lost my left leg.

At school I was very interested in sport and used calipers to walk and play football. My dream was to be a top athlete.

When I was 13 I discovered wheelchair basketball, which changed my life.

I realised I COULD be an elite athlete after all. I could compete on a level playing field with other people like me and my talent would shine through.

Discovering the Paralympics was extremely empowering and it changed my perception of disability.

I used to think about disability as all of the things you couldn’t do.

Entering the world of the Paralympics, I realised what these guys did in the wheelchairs was cool – it was almost like watching an extreme sport.

It made me feel proud of who I was. You are going to see thousands of athletes next year who are proud of who they are.

Last year, for example, I went to watch some of the junior wheelchair basketball players and they had a different type of swagger – a twinkle in their eyes because they knew 2012 was coming up.

These kids know they can get worldwide recognition as top athletes.

The Paralympic Games will also change the perception of able-bodied people watching – because they will be thinking “I can’t serve a tennis ball at 100mph standing up, let alone sitting in a wheelchair, or run the 400m like Oscar Pistorius.”

More than the millions of pounds and stadia, the real legacy of London 2012 will be how it changes people’s mindsets.

Everyone is excited about the Olympics but we shouldn’t allow it to overshadow the Paralympics. As a sportsman, my career meant all to me. For 15 years of my life it consumed me and it was the only thing I thought about.

I would’ve found it very hard to see my career as complete if I hadn’t competed in the Paralympics.

Which is why I’m looking forward to them as much – if not more – than the Olympics.

from → DisAbility Sport, Paralympics
One Comment leave one →
  1. Dan McIntyre's avatar
    Dan McIntyre permalink
    August 2, 2011 11:59 am

    Hear hear! Whilst taking part in the recent Alps Challenge I was fortunate enough to meet and speak to Ade, Nic Hamilton and Tanni Grey Thompson and the one thing I found that unites these people (bearing in mind they all compete in different sports) is their mindset – their positive “can do” attitude is remarkable and Nic Hamilton actually commented that he doesn’t have time or patience for people who are negative.

    It is awe-inspiring and part of the reason that I volunteered to help out during the Olympics and Paralympics. I wouldn’t describe myself as a sporty person in any sense of the word but I will be extremely honoured if I am chosen to volunteer at the games next year.

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