Paris Paralympics: We ensure our athletes believe in their abilities and are not limited by their disabilities
Jayce
We returned home with two silver medals from the Paralympics in badminton. This is an incredible achievement. But more importantly, we are proud of the performances of our four players who, throughout a week of intense competition, represented the sport of badminton brilliantly and will inspire many more to take part in the sport.
“I was left speechless while cheering for our athletes in Paris,” explained Sue Storey, CEO of Badminton England. “It was an incredibly joyful event.
“We work with our athletes to help them reach their peak performance. The entire culture of Badminton England is about ensuring athletes believe in their abilities and are not limited by disability.
“Dan was simply amazing. He performed so well. He was just one step away from the gold medal, but we are proud of his silver medal win on Monday.
“Then there’s Christen—he was truly a crowd favorite! Honestly, I think he dived more times during the Paralympics than Tom Daley did! He was flying everywhere, enjoying every second, and we are so proud of their achievements.
“Rachel didn’t make it to Tokyo with this achievement, but she came to Paris and stepped onto the court as the first female badminton player at the Paralympics. She made everyone proud—we look forward to seeing her progress and what she will achieve in Los Angeles in four years.
“Then there’s Jack—like Rachel, he competed in two events. He continues to be a great ambassador for the sport. I know that when he returns home, he will go into the community
Sue also believes that the success in Paris will inspire more people across the country to get involved in our sport
“This is exactly what we hoped for. We aimed for two medals at the Paralympics, and we achieved
“All the players worked incredibly hard, and head coach Richard Morris has fostered such a great culture—a truly amazing culture that inspires everyone to get involved in para-badminton.
“Of course, none of this would be possible without the tremendous support of the National Lottery. Every penny that goes into the lottery helps sport in this country—so thank you to the National Lottery for helping us achieve what we did today.
“Badminton is an amazing sport. No matter your age, what level you want to achieve, or whether you have a disability, you can take part in this sport. These players have proven just how inspiring they can be when competing at the highest level on the biggest stage.
“What I want to say to everyone who watched our Olympic and Paralympic games this summer is… pick up a racket and play badminton! It’s the most joyful thing.
“There are so many opportunities to get involved in the sport. We would love to see more people participate in para-badminton. Last week’s competition showed what we can achieve—our athletes set an example in Paris, inspiring more people to get involved in the sport.”
