23 August, 2024
There are now just five days until the 2024 Paralympics get underway in Paris. The ParalympicsGB badminton squad has been selected, including three returning Paralympians and one debutant, and we will hear from each of them in a blog on the Badminton England website. Next up, it’s Jack Shephard, who represented ParalympicsGB as badminton made its Paralympic debut in Tokyo…
Whether it be in my personal or professional life, one thing I have rarely failed to demonstrate is my ability to bounce back.
It was a dream come true to represent ParalympicsGB at Tokyo 2020, being granted the opportunity to play the sport I love on the biggest stage possible.
That said, Tokyo did not exactly go to plan for me. Competing in front of empty stands due to the restrictions in place from COVID-19, I failed to make it beyond the group stage, seeing my hopes of a debut Paralympic medal end prematurely.
It was a tough pill to swallow, made even harder by the absence of my support group, who were forced to watch on from 6,000 miles away.
But as I prepare to return to the Paralympic stage this summer, previous heartache only acts as my rocket fuel as I set my sights on the podium.
The reinforcement of my goals is pivotal in keeping my motivation sky high. I’ve got a picture of gold medals as my phone’s screensaver so that every day, gold is the first thing I see.
It gets me up in the morning, pushes me to training and forces me to work as hard as I can towards a dream that I’ve had since childhood.
I might have suffered Paralympic disappointment three years ago, but when it comes to overcoming adversity, I have a pretty impressive track record.
When I was 14, I had to have corrective surgery on my lower legs – a procedure that is quite common among those with dwarfism.
It left me in a wheelchair for nine months and could have easily derailed my push to become an elite athlete.
But after a strenuous rehab period, which saw me take as many extra physio and training sessions as I could, I clawed my way back to full strength.
Just five years later, I claimed my first World Championship Singles title in 2017, before repeating the feat in 2019.
Now, as I prepare to become a two-time Paralympian, it is safe to say that major surgery did anything but halt my dreams in Para badminton.
This summer, avenging heartbreak from three years prior will be my top priority, looking to bring home hardware in front of a packed-out arena.
It will be a completely different experience to the one experienced in the Far East, with friends, family and fans all able to come and support in Paris.
Added pressure there may be, but with my loved ones in the crowds, I will be even more driven to achieve success and write myself into Paralympic history.
