By William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice
“To say that I am a Paralympian it means so much to me that I genuinely struggle putting it into words.” – Martin Perry’s Paralympic dream has come true.
Martin Perry is a 30-year-old Para table tennis player who’s just days away from competing at his debut Paralympics Games, representing ParalympicsGB.
Martin was born with Congenital Limb Loss and Deformity, resulting in him having no hands and one leg – this means that he competes in Para table tennis as a class 6 singles player and a class 14 doubles player.
Martin was first introduced to table tennis at Scottish Disability Sport’s Summer Camp. “I hadn’t even encountered the sport before [SDS summer camp]. We strapped the bat to my right forearm with velcro and a tea towel and I just loved it.”
Today, Martin plays with a specially made bat which has a grip that can be molded onto his arm.
Martin still can’t quite believe that he is now a Paralympian and will shortly be representing ParalympicsGB in Paris. “It’s hard to put into words. I picked up the bat for the first time when I was 15, so that’s literally half my life now.”
“To say that I am a Paralympian it means so much to me that I genuinely struggle putting it into words.”
“I remember the ball bouncing past my opponent and hitting the floor, I looked at my coach and said ‘I’m in’. I’m finally so proud to call myself a Paralympian”, said Martin.
With the Paralympic Games being held in Paris, it provides an amazing opportunity for athletes representing ParalympicsGB to compete in front of their family and friends.
“To be in Paris, it’s the closest I imagine I will get to having a home Games”, said Martin.
“To have my family, my wife, my daughter, my friends, my teammates and everyone at Drumchapel table tennis club coming along, it’s just going to mean so much to me as they have all played a big part in getting me to this point. To share that moment with them is just going to be so special.”
Although Martin is incredibly proud to be a representative of ParalympicsGB, he is the only Scottish athlete in the table tennis squad. This offers a unique opportunity to also represent Scotland on the International stage. “It’s an amazing feeling, it fills me with such pride because I am the only Scottish table tennis representative at the Olympics and Paralympics in the modern Paralympic era”, Martin said.
Once he had confirmation that he’d qualified for the Paralympics, many emotional phonecalls were made including to his wife, Siobhan, and his coach from Drumchapel.
“Sport allows me to not feel disabled, it allows me to feel that I can achieve anything and do anything”, Martin said.
“It’s really changed my life. Table tennis has really shaped me and helped me become who I am today. I’m very grateful for the opportunity that sport has given me.”
He continued to say: “I had no idea I could become a Paralympian. Chasing a little white ball around a table, but I have done it and it’s been an amazing journey.”
The Paralympic Games runs from 28th August to 8th September.
Martin will begin his Paralympic campaign on Thursday 29th August with the Men’s Doubles MD14, Round of 16. You can view the full schedule here.