David was born with no left forearm and was brought up with the belief that everything is possible through hard work and passion. He excelled at swimming and triathlon and went on to become a Paralympian. Furthermore, he is been a British, European, and World champion and has represented Great Britain in the 2004 and 2016 Paralympic Games. Since retiring from athletics, David currently works with local schools, colleges, and sports clubs to provide mentoring services. He is also involved with organizations like Youth Sport Trust and Dame Kelly Holmes Trust to help transfer skills learned in high-level sport to the business world. David is also available for corporate speaking events, nutrition, swim clinics, and personal training.

What is your most memorable swimming championship and why?D: My most memorable competition, was the day that I qualified at the trials for my first Paralympic games to compete in Athens 2004. This is so memorable because it was the day that I learnt how powerful it was to believe in yourself and what we are capable of when we think positively, we practice hard and we allow ourselves to focus on the process and not the outcome. I can’t actually remember the race, much like I don’t think about how I drive a car; it just happens in autopilot and that’s the magic of it!

What do you love about mentoring and coaching?D: I love drawing upon my experience and years of learning, to inspire, influence and support the next generation. The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the impact you have and seeing a change in people for the better; whether that is their skill, their behaviour, or the messages they tell themselves. I’m so thankful to the coaches that have worked with me during my career that this is my way of giving back.

What challenges did you face during your school days? How did you motivate yourself to face those challenges?D: I was very fortunate to receive funding to base myself in the best environment possible to balance my education and my sporting commitments. Motivation then just came in abundance because I was surrounded with like-minded, aspiring, and high achieving individuals. This taught me a lot about choosing your team correctly, based on your goals, and how if you surround yourself with positive and successful people, then you will become a positive and successful person. It’s a known fact that you become an average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. So think; who do you want to become?

What are your other hobbies?D: Alongside full-time training as an elite athlete, I attended college two days a week. I completed a diploma in carpentry and joinery because I wanted to learn how to do my hobby competently and learn new techniques. These days if I find myself with a weekend with nothing to do, you’ll find me in my workshop making a piece of bespoke furniture. I believe losing yourself in a creative task is really supportive for our well-being and I’d encourage everyone to find their outlet whether it be textiles, DIY or baking etc.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?D: I’m really lucky to live in Devon, England, an area of outstanding natural beauty. I learnt to swim because I live by the beach and I walk on the beach nearly every day with my dog called Pebbles. It’s calming, it clears my head and you always see a familiar face.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?D: Allow them to get frustrated, allow them to fail, allow them to learn and discover and become independent and resilient. Remember, there’s more than one way of achieving the same outcome!

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who want to pursue sports?D: I would encourage anybody to keep trying new activities and find something that you enjoy. We all know when we find something we love; the hard work comes easier than if we don’t enjoy what we do. However, formal sport is not for everybody, but exercise and physical activity is a really good way to support our physical and mental well-being. I have never done exercise or participated in sport and regretted it afterwards; just getting involved and reap the rewards! Good luck