Our ambassadors and patrons

Dan Bethall

My badminton journey began in 2009 after watching the 2008 Bejiing Paralympics. I had never seen people with disabilities playing sport at such a high level, and it really inspired me to get involved. I initially looked at tennis, however, there was no category for people with my disability, with wheelchair tennis being the only event in the Paralympics. I kept researching and came across Para-Badminton. Having played a bit in a school, and having a great love for racket sports I decided to join a local club and give it a go. I played my first competition in 2010 in Manchester and fell in love with the sport.

I currently train at the national centre in Sheffield. A typical training week will consist of 2 to 3 sessions a day from Monday to Friday. The sessions include a mixture of on court sessions, both physical and technical, and 2 to 3 s & c sessions a week. Alongside this I also have regular physio sessions, as well as  nutrition and psychology support.

Sport has massively changed my life both physically and mentally. Before I started full time training my body, particularly my CP affected side, was incredibly week and stiff. I really struggled to stand on one leg and my muscles were extremely tight which put me and an increased risk of injurying myself. Through training I have built myself up and drastically reduced the discrepancies between my non-CP and CP sides. I have also grown 2 centimetres over the past 3 years because my strength and flexibility training has improved my posture.

From a mental standpoint, meeting people like me, with CP and different disabilities through sport has been eye opening. From knowing other people with disabilities, I have been able to find ways to adapt everyday tasks to make it easier, such as learning to tie my shoe laces one handed and getting adaptions on a car to be able to drive.

I have always had 5 goals that I want to achieve in my career: become world number 1, national champion, European Champion, World Champion, and Paralympic Champion. I have already achieved the first 3 so my goal is now to complete the set.

The next World Championships is in Tokyo next year, which will provide a springboard for the next Paralympics in Paris 2024. My biggest ambition is to go to these competitions and take home a gold medal.

My advice to others with CP is to go out and try every sport you can. Sport not only provides an opportunity to be healthy and get stronger physically, which is so important for everyone, but will help you create memories, both on and off the field, that will last forever.

Achievements 

Paralympic Games:

2020- 1 x Silver Medal (mens singles)

World Championships:

2015- 3 x Bronze Medals (mens singles, mens doubles, mixed doubles)

2019- 1 x Silver medal (mens singles)

European Championships:

2014, 2016, 2018- Gold Medal  (mens singles)

Former World number 1 mens singles (current world number 2)

13 International Titles