Ben Rowlings

Age: 25

Home town: Bo’ness

Sport: Athletics

Events: 100m & 800m

Classification: T34

Name of club: Coventry Godiva

When and how did you get involved in sport?
I found wheelchair racing in 2011 at a British Athletics talent identification day. I was previously a swimmer but had to stop due to a chlorine allergy, so when I saw the race chairs I was hooked. They looked completely different to anything I had ever seen before and the thought of going quick round an athletics track was a massive draw.

Career highlights:

A career highlight was competing in the Rio Paralympics. Rio was my first Paralympic Games and although the races didn’t go to plan it was the moment I became a Paralympian which will always be a special moment. Another career highlight would be the quick individual races I have done. One that comes to mind is my European Record 800m race from 2017. I knocked 6 seconds off my personal best time in one race, crossing the line in 1.39. This was the first time I felt like I was at the level to compete for medals at major championships.

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
Tokyo will be my 2nd Paralympic Games

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
My ambition for Tokyo is to win medals.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
My advice would be try as many sports as you can until you find one that suits you and once you’ve found a sport that clicks throw yourself into every opportunity. Sport has changed my life and taken me to places I never thought I would get to go to so enjoy the journey.

Twitter: @BenRowlings

Facebook: Ben Rowlings T34 Wheelchair Racer

Instagram: benrowlings