My story, written by James Ball.
My first memory of riding a bike goes back to when I was about 10 years old. I had my first BMX bike, complete with those old-school stunt pegs. It took me quite a few tries to get the hang of balancing, but once I did, that bike became a big part of my childhood. Back then, though, my focus wasn’t just on cycling. I was into swimming, athletics, and even played the drums—I was always busy, always active.
Sport has always been a major part of my life. I competed in swimming and athletics throughout school, always driven by a desire to do my best. But in 2015, my journey took an unexpected turn. I tore my hamstring while training in Loughborough, which set me on a challenging three-year rehab journey leading up to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Cycling wasn't even on my radar at that point, but sometimes life surprises you.
Cycling found me, really. I was talent-spotted by British Cycling while I was at the gym in Sport Wales. I remember John Lenton (Paralympic Performance Manager) putting me on a turbo trainer to see what I could do. It didn’t go very well I don’t think because he came back the next day, convinced I had more in me—and he was right. That moment marked the start of this incredible path I’m on now.
As a visually impaired athlete, I cycle on the back of a tandem as the ‘stoker’ while my sighted teammate is the ‘pilot’ who controls the bike. My first proper tandem session was at Newport Velodrome with Neil Smith, who paired me with my first pilot Amy Hill. From there, things started to take off. My first competitive pilot was Craig MacLean, and together we competed at the world championships in Montichiari in 2016. That was a huge milestone for me. I didn’t have any real intention of going to the Paralympic Games back then—competing at the world champs felt like an achievement in itself.
I qualified for the Rio 2016 Paralympics, but it didn’t go as planned. I came fifth in the 1km time-trial on the track, which was disappointing. Still, being part of the programme meant I had another shot at the Games. Tokyo 2020 was a whole different experience, especially with the COVID-19 restrictions. It was tough not having crowds or family there, but the team atmosphere was phenomenal, and I’m proud of what we accomplished, getting silver.
Now, here I am, gearing up for Paris 2024. It feels almost like my first Games all over again. The whole 'Kitting Out' process was incredible, and the excitement is building as we are now in our holding camp in Manchester.
Looking back, I’ve learned so much from my previous Games experiences. Rio felt like a whirlwind, with everything happening so fast. Tokyo brought more pressure, especially with the added challenge of the pandemic. But Paris feels different. After winning silver in Tokyo, there’s pressure to outperform that, but it’s a challenge I’m ready for.
My family and friends have been amazing throughout this journey. They’ve supported me since the beginning, and I’m thrilled that many of them will be in Paris to cheer me on. Having them there will be incredible, and I hope I can make them proud. The thought of celebrating with them after the race is just the motivation I need to give it my all.
