At the age of seventeen Andy suffered a spinal-cord injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down with limited use of his hands. He discovered wheelchair rugby during his rehabilitation period and joined the London Wheelchair Rugby Club. His life has been transformed with a remarkable wheelchair rugby career. Andy is a three-time Paralympian, three-time European gold medalist and served as the Great Britain team captain. After retiring after the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Andy pursued his career as an inspirational speaker and mentor. Andy is a proud ambassador for Team London, Right To Play and Laureus.

How and when did you decide to take on wheelchair rugby?A: I began playing WC Rugby after discovering the sport during my rehab at a spinal injuries unit, following my accident in 1997. I joined London Wheelchair Rugby Club in January 1998 and never looked back. That was the start of an extraordinary journey for me.

What is your most memorable championship and why?A: That would have to the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Having the biggest disability sport event in the world come to my hometown was something I’ll never forget. It was a privilege to be a part of it as an athlete, but it was about so much more than just sport and competition.
It was my final tournament before I retired as an athlete so it was great to go out on a high and start a new chapter in my life with great memories.

What is your main objective when mentoring and coaching athletes?A: I want people to gain perspective. A vital part of self-improvement is to know where you are in the first place so you can gauge how you’re doing. Understanding what we already have is a key part of the gratitude that informs our happiness. That, in turn, motivates us to do and be more.

What challenges did you face during a spinal cord injury? How did you motivate yourself to face those challenges?A: I was only 17 when I was injured so it was a tough time for me. Your life goes through a huge change and lots of questions run through your head about all kinds of things. (What will my life be like? Will I be able to get a job? Will anyone love me?)
Then, as I said above, you begin to gain perspective and realise what you have got, rather than what you’ve lost. You learn to focus on the things you can control instead of the things that you can’t change – like the past!
Taking things one step at a time and be grateful for what you have, and even more importantly, who you have around you is what helped me most.

Who is your inspiration?A: I’m inspired by a hue amount of different people and that list is constantly changing. I have a few big ones in there…. As a former rugby player, Jonny Wilkinson was a big one. He helped England win the World Cup in 2003 and was a great player with a fierce work ethic, but humble at the same time.
Right now, I love what Greta Thunberg is doing for climate change and how she is living her values.
However, there are people I see every day who inspire me in so many different ways and I’d urge others to look for inspiration everywhere. The people who inspire you don’t have to be famous!

What are your other hobbies?A: I love travelling, as there are just so many places in the world to see. I also love live sport and music so any combination of those along with sampling the local food and wine makes me very happy.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?A: I’m a big fan of Asia because it’s so culturally different from my home in the UK. Chiang Mai in northern Thailand is probably my favourite place. It’s a really chilled out city with a stunning old town at its centre and it’s full of diverse food, music, and art.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?A: Encourage your children to participate as fully as possible in mainstream life, but also find opportunities where they can engage and compete with other on an equal footing. Finding communities for them as young PWDs is a really important part of their development, but it is only a part.
I’d also guard against them viewing every negative experience through the prism of disability. Undoubtedly, they will have extra challenges to overcome, but growing up is tough irrespective of whether you have a disability or not. (I grew up as an able bodied person and still went through my fair share of tough times – as we all did!)

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who are interested in rugby?A: I’d say get out there and give it a go…. It changed my life!
Everything has to start somewhere so your first step is a simple click. Try http://www.iwrf.com (our world governing body) and then follow the links to your home country (in the UK, that’s https://gbwr.org.uk ) and then search for a club near you.

Any special message for our community?A: Inspiration can be a powerful thing, but it’s nothing without action.