This summer, 1,077 blind and partially sighted athletes from 70 countries will compete across 10 different sports at the IBSA World Games in Birmingham and the wider region, including qualifying events for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. As part of our build-up to the Games, British Blind Sport is highlighting VI athletes to raise awareness of inclusive sports in the UK.
"Sport is my life. I love competing, I love training, I love travelling and I love coaching. Wherever I am in the world I will be found doing something related to sport!"
Meet Dan, 32, from Loughborough. Dan lives with Stargardt's; an inherited eye condition which affects the macular, causing reduced central vision. Below he shares his journey into sport.
"I've been involved with sport my whole life; my father was a Paralympian too. Attending a mainstream school with a visual impairment, the only time I felt equally included was during P.E. I struggled with other lessons because teachers were unable to give me the support I needed. However, sport levelled the playing field, and I fell in love with it!"
Dan has been competing in sport for over a decade. He has represented Great Britain at the London 2012 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the visually impaired judo 90kg event, finishing 7th overall at both Games. Alongside these great achievements, he said: "I still hold records in my name for track sprinting, and in rowing. My latest big achievement is winning a silver medal at the recent IBSA World Judo Championships, in Baku."
"I've faced many challenges in sport, mainly because of injury, including needing surgery on my knee. A lot of coaches have had to adapt their own coaching style to teach me in a more verbal and movement-based way because of my visual impairment."
"Away from training and competing I enjoy supporting people to live a healthy and active lifestyle, as well as helping young people to achieve in sport, and develop their potential."
With the IBSA World Games just weeks away, Dan said: "I'm looking forward to competing in front of a home crowd and feeling the buzz, having my friends and family being able to watch me compete for my country like I did over a decade ago at London 2012."
To find out more about judo, visit: https://britishblindsport.org.uk/membership/bbs-sports/judo/
For more information about the IBSA World Games and to book tickets, visit: https://www.ibsagames2023.co.uk
