John and Sam's story

John

It was about two and a half years ago when Sam made a decision that she wanted a bit more out of life than she was getting and the question was, well, what form and what shape would that take? Parasport was key in finding Sam a sport to help her achieve what she wanted to achieve, to broaden her life, to give her something to aim for and aspire for in life. Sam was fortunate enough to be invited to a Paralympic talent day and they explained that, if you just wanted to continue the sport, but at a club level, then they’d provide you with details of your local club, and I thought that was a really important message because, you know, sport’s not just for the big guns, sport’s for everyone and I thought that was really important.

Sam

Parasport gives you information that nobody else gives you and it’s nice to find out where you can get in contact to join in with people that have the same disabilities as you maybe. You’re competing on a much fairer, level playing field.

John

Sam would have definitely struggled to get into sport without the Parasport website and I don’t know quite what I’d have done without that really.

Sam

Parasport was a great help giving us the information that we needed to get us to the open day which, I mean that open day really launched my career, I guess.

John

I came out of there and that day was over and I just thought, wow, you know, that was one of the best days of my life, it was just phenomenal.
Sam was born with a short right thigh bone and by the time she was fully grown, the differential between her right thigh bone and her left thigh bone would have been nine inches, so, her childhood was pretty much punctuated by visits to the children’s hospital for regular operations.

Sam

I always struggled at sport as a child because I went to an able-bodied school so I was competing against people that didn’t have disabilities, although at the time I didn’t really consider myself disabled because I didn’t need a wheelchair and I didn’t use my crutches and I was just a normal child really. I think I hadn’t realised you could be athletic as well as being disabled. It never really occurred to me that that was an option.

John

So Sam’s managed to establish herself in the adaptive rowing team over the last couple of years. Within rowing they concentrate mainly on weights-based training and obviously rowing on the water. As part of that programme she’ll train about six days a week, so it’s pretty heavy going. Sam herself would tell you that, you know, she trains just as hard as an able-bodied athlete.

Sam

When we started, we had no idea that I’d end up competing for Great Britain, it was literally to get me something to do to meet people. I was quite lucky, I seemed to pick it up quite quickly. Me and my dad actually did a fair bit of gym work before we started. We knew that to get a trial for Great Britain you had to do a long course race and we’d go down the gym and we’d practise and practise and practise. He’s been a massive part in my success and will continue to be a massive part in my success, both my parents have. So, even after finding me something to do, he then on a daily basis helps me with my training.

John

I love Sam’s involvement in sport, I would drive a million miles for Sam to get her to a venue if I had to, to get her to a place to train if that’s what it took.

Sam

I’m so grateful that, at the moment, it looks like I’m heading in the right direction, to give them that reward to get to 2012 because I know that they enjoy it as much as I do.

John

Sam’s involvement in sport for me and my wife, it’s been a revelation really. Parasport was definitely one of the major stepping stones in helping Sam advance to where she is now.