Prior to my stroke while I was physically fit and would spend many hours a week in the gym I was never ‘sporty’ as a child I never fussed with football or rugby, I was never in any sport team, I have never had a competitive streak.

I did find gymnastics in my 30s though and loved the idea of being in a group of similar people and it fast became a friendship group too.

I did quite early on post stroke discover and join a disabled gym group which has done me wonders in both fitness, meeting people and support.

Through this group an event was flagged to me, a Paralympics taster day on a weekend 30ish miles away. A day to see adapted sports, athletes, coaches and try to find a sport to follow up.

We went; on typical the nicest day of the year so far. To a university known for its sporting reputation to a huge sport centre, warmly greeted and given a schedule for the day.

I started with archery. a bow with a tab bite pull was set up for me. With some instruction on stance and aim I was quickly firing arrows successfully into the target and popping balloons. I really enjoyed it and left details to hopefully follow up with a club near home.

Athletics was next, I was apprehensive heading in, unsure how it works. I tried ‘ walking as fast as possible’ then given a running frame to try. imagine an inverted tricycle, I was essentially propped up and leaning on a chest plate and on tip toes able to propel myself down a track and back, I think with a lower stance and better foot position I could have been faster, but it was worth a go.

We had lunch after.

Next was wheelchair rugby, Ive seen bits and know its absolutely brutal, I was told Id have to get in a wheelchair for the session; Im very aware Im not a wheelchair user and felt rather uncomfortable having to use one, worse though was the fact I can’t self propel, the session instead had a coach pushing me around the court, I can catch and throw with my good arm, when not getting scalded for using my feet to stand.

Final session was Boccia (pronounced bocha) a more complex bowls that is open to many people as long as you can propel a ball somehow, it was surprisingly tactical which I enjoyed and won all my games. I liked it was played in teams too.

Im going to follow up both archery and boccia. see you in LA 2028?