Go Team Whizz Kidz! Young people’s Paralympic passions

It’s so close you can feel the excitement. The athletes are prepped. The venues are ready. The medals are waiting to be won. France will host its first-ever Paralympic Games in Paris from 28 August to 8 September 2024. Over 22 sports and 549 events, the world will see the greatest go for gold. We cannot wait. 

So we’re checking in with some of the sportiest young people in the Whizz Kidz community to see what Paralympic sports they love to do. All Paralympic medals started with the winner trying something new, discovering they loved it enough to keep practising and playing until the ribbon was put around their neck.

Most of us don’t make it to the heights of the Paralympics or want to go beyond our local Whizz Kidz Activity Club. We hope society has moved on from every young person with a disability being told they should be a Paralympian. However, being active in our chosen sports is great for having fun, making friends and feeling good. Here are some young people and their Paralympic passions…

Oona loves swimming

Eleanor, Oona’s mum, asked her daughter the questions…

Eleanor: How did you first get into your sport?
Oona: So I looked at swimming in an inflatable spa. That was in lockdown In the garden.

Eleanor: And then what happened after that?
Oona: And then I went to Swimlab International. Which is in Lanzarote?

Eleanor: Yeah, which is in Spain. Because your physio had stopped, we took you there to do physio, didn't we? And what happened?
Oona: Then, the first day there, I was swimming in Lanzarote when my mum was amazed. 

Eleanor: I was totally amazed. Okay, so that's how you got into it. Where do you go swimming now?What places do you swim in?
Oona: I go swimming to Pennington and the Commons. 

Eleanor: So that's the Royal Commonwealth pool in Edinburgh? Yeah, And Portobello sometimes? Portobello Pool? And then you do races and galas at loads of other pools don't you too?
Oona: Yeah 

Eleanor: Okay, what was the moment it clicked for you? So that means, when did you know you were a swimmer?
Oona: Well, when I started to go under the water, I knew that I really wanted to be a swimmer. And this is my dream. 

Eleanor: So quite early, it happened quite early. When you were six, you started doing that, didn't you?
Oona: Right, right.

Eleanor: What's the best feeling you get when playing your sport? And when does that happen? What's the best thing about it?
Oona: I get to know people from other countries and other teams, which is really good, too. 

Eleanor: That's a good feeling, yeah. Okay, what do you think you're best at in swimming? What's your strongest stroke, for example?
Oona: My strongest stroke is backstroke. I get really good times in races and backstroke. 

Eleanor: Yeah, you do and you're good at front crawl as well. You've got very good times at the front crawl. 
What strokes or other things in the pool do you need to work at? What are you still developing?
Oona: I'm still developing butterfly.

Eleanor: That's the one you're still learning. Okay, what would your dream moment be in your sport? What would be the best thing you could achieve in swimming?
Oona: I would love to win the national championship and the Paralympics. 

Eleanor: That would be cool. What sports people do you admire in your sport and maybe in another sport?
Oona: I mean, so there's a person I love, she's called Teresa. 

Eleanor: Teresa Parrales is who you mean?
Oona: Yeah, Teresa Parrales, and she's amazing.

Eleanor: She's a Spanish S2 swimmer, isn't she? Can you remember how many Olympics she swam at?
Oona: I think it was nine, something like that and she's won like 27 Paralympic medals, hasn't she?

Eleanor: So she talked to you for ages, didn't she, at Aberdeen?
Oona: Yeah 

Eleanor: What would you say to other people to encourage them to go swimming?
Oona: I would encourage them to get used to the water and then start doing lengths and then start getting into swimming. Just go for it, yeah?

Eleanor: What's the best way to get into your sport, do you think?
Oona: Have a nap before you go 

Eleanor: That's true; I think that's a good tip. 
Oona: And especially in the championship, I would have a nap before I swim so I can go really fast. 

Eleanor: Do you have a favourite mentor, trainer, coach or carer who helps you enjoy your sport?
Oona: I love my coach, Jacky. She encouraged me to swim really well, and I just love her.
Eleanor: She's brilliant, isn't she? So she's the coach for the Lothian Racers, which is your team, Jacky Yirrell.

Eleanor: Anything else we should know?
Oona: Just believe in yourself. You swim and do not give up. Do not say that I want to win the medals. I want to beat my personal best and my true winner. So it's more about getting yourself better. It's not always about being the medal winner but getting your own better times, yeah?

Rebecca loves wheelchair tennis

How did you first get into your sport?
I went to a Whizz Kidz club activity in September 2022 to try wheelchair tennis. Then, one of the coaches from the LTA told me about the wheelchair tennis sessions at the National Tennis Centre and invited me along. I've been going every week since!

Where do you play your sport?
National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. So I get to see the likes of Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid and Andy Murray just wandering past.

What moment did it ‘click’ for you, and you knew this was your sport?
As soon as I got into the sports chair at the Whizz Kidz club activity, I was like, "Wow! I'm so whizzy!" I just loved being able to move so freely and quickly and also hit the ball hard!

What’s the best feeling you get playing your sport?
I think the best feeling is when you've pushed really hard to get to the ball, hit it back, and then race to the other side of the court to hit it back again and then win the point. The hard rallies are my favourite as you really feel like you earned it, and you are so in the zone. You just have to focus on getting to the ball and then hitting it and nothing else.

What do you think you’re best at in your sport?
I think probably my movement around the court is what I'm best at, followed by my forehand. 



What do you need to work on in your sport?
My backhand! Also more anticipation of where the opponent is going to hit the ball back to and planning therefore where to hit the ball to and where to then recover/position yourself to. All comes with practice! 

What specialist equipment do you need to do your sport?
I need a tennis sports wheelchair. I'm very lucky that Greg Slade (British quad number 2) has lent me his first tennis chair, and it fits really well and is adjustable so that I can find the right set-up for me. I was also loaned a tennis chair before I got Greg's from the NTC to play in the parks, and I borrowed one during the sessions, so I'm lucky that I've never had to pay for one (yet)! I also need a racket that I also got given from the NTC sessions. I also tape up my fingers as they get blistered (I learnt very quickly after a few racket handles covered in blood!).

What would your dream moment in your sport be?
I think my dream moment would be playing at Wimbledon tennis. But sooner than that would be winning a tournament.

Which sports people do you admire?
Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid, Greg Slade, and lots of wheelchair tennis players!

What would you say to others to encourage them to play your sport?
I think just give it a go! Find some sessions to try near you (the LTA runs some bigger ones every year so look on their website). Don't be put off by thinking that you need to buy a sports wheelchair, as you can borrow one in most cases, and some charities can help with that if the time comes that you need to buy one. It can feel freeing racing around the court. You can also play with friends and family. The only rule change is that you get two bounces.

What’s the best way to get into your sport?
Look on the LTA website and find a session near you. A lot of clubs also do disability tennis sessions, although this may not be wheelchair specific, and they might not have lots of sports chairs you can borrow.

What one piece of advice would you give someone doing your sport for the first time?
Give it a try. Enjoy the freedom your sports chair gives you. If you find out it's not for you, at least you know.

Do you have a favourite mentor, trainer, coach, or carer who helps you enjoy your sport?
Lee Neale runs the wheelchair tennis sessions at the National Tennis Centre. He is a brilliant coach who can explain things and demonstrate them well, making the sessions interesting and fun!

Where do you hope your sport will take you? Is there a goal you want to reach?
Right now, I'm just enjoying the training sessions and having fun playing the sport, but soon, I'll probably start playing in some tournaments and see where that takes me! 

Harley loves wheelchair basketball

How did you first get into your sport?
I originally started off playing wheelchair tennis. However, it was based in Preston, which is quite far from where I live, so through looking on the internet, I found the wheelchair basketball development sessions that I go to.

Where do you play your sport?
I play for Manchester Revolution at Belle Vue Leisure Centre.

What moment did it click for you, and you knew this was your sport?
I knew this was my sport because I like the team aspect of wheelchair basketball, and I get to meet and play with different people in wheelchairs as well.

What is the best feeling you get playing your sport?
The best feeling I get when playing wheelchair basketball is when I score and also playing as a team because I enjoy the team aspect of wheelchair basketball.

What do you think you are good at in your sport?
I think the strongest and best part of my performance in wheelchair basketball is shooting, dribbling and being a team player.

What do you need to work on in your sport?
I need to work on my communication, confidence and defending in wheelchair basketball.

What specialist equipment do you need to do your sport?
To play wheelchair basketball, we need lightweight sports wheelchairs to get around the court faster and easier.

What would your dream moment in your sport be?
My dream moment would be to play for a higher division in my team and get to play in a big match.

Which sports people do you admire?
The sports people that I admire in wheelchair basketball are Robyn Love and Laurie Williams; I admire them both because I am able to watch them play and learn from them to help me in my performances. I also admire the England Lionesses and women's football teams

What would you say to others to encourage them to play your sport?
I would say to look online for a club in your area where you live, meet new people, and play wheelchair basketball to try it out and see if you enjoy it.

What is the best way to get into your sport?
Find a wheelchair basketball club in your area online and mail them to get involved. This helped me when I first started playing wheelchair basketball because it was hard to find a wheelchair basketball club in my area before I found out about the development sessions at Belle Vue. You can also speak to local charities to see if they have any information about clubs in your area

What is one piece of advice you would give someone doing your sport for the first time?
One piece of advice I would give to someone playing wheelchair basketball for the first time would be to meet and talk to different people, for example, people on your team and your coach, and take part to see if you enjoy playing.

Do you have a favourite mentor, trainer, coach or carer who helps you enjoy your sport?
My coach at my wheelchair basketball club and I am also doing a level 3 sports course at college, so I would say that my college tutors also help me to enjoy wheelchair basketball

Where do you hope your sport will take you?
I think that one goal I want to reach in wheelchair basketball would be to play for a higher division team for my club, Manchester Revolution.

Anything else we should know?
I am currently at college doing a level 3 sports course, and I hope to go to university to take a sports coaching course. I want to work in the sports sector after university.

Owen loves wheelchair rugby

Owen answered questions about his favourite sport in this video:

Meet up and try new things on our Activity Programmes

Whizz Kidz’s activities for young wheelchair users are designedto build your confidence while you make friends and have fun. Check out what's on offer near you today!