For another incredible Dutchwoman:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/aug/28/diede-de-groot-tenniss-everything-champion-eyes-13th-straight-grand-slam
Dutch wheelchair sport is off the charts successful, I wish this was replicated here in the UK. It's all about the funding of equipment and societal attitudes.... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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 a fantastic achievement! Well done to her - at the top of her sport!
As an aside though, while I appreciate the Paralympics are for all disabilities, not just wheelchair sports, GB finished 3rd in the medal table for the Summer games of 2012 in London, 2nd in Rio in 2016 and 2nd again in Tokyo in 2021 (delayed from 2020), only beaten by China in the last 2 games.
So they’re doing something right, although as with everything I’m sure there’s even more that can be done given the resources. |
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" a fantastic achievement! Well done to her - at the top of her sport!
As an aside though, while I appreciate the Paralympics are for all disabilities, not just wheelchair sports, GB finished 3rd in the medal table for the Summer games of 2012 in London, 2nd in Rio in 2016 and 2nd again in Tokyo in 2021 (delayed from 2020), only beaten by China in the last 2 games.
So they’re doing something right, although as with everything I’m sure there’s even more that can be done given the resources."
In wheelchair sports specifically, which are very expensive to participate in at any level, the Netherlands is probably one of the best.
In the UK, it is only charities who fund sports wheelchairs for young people and people with specific disabilities. There is no state funding for sports wheelchairs and for children who are growing, chairs don't last that long. You can't put a child in an outsized chair and expect them to play sports safely.
Maby children who use wheelchairs are completely excluded from school PE in the UK. Quote from a Govt report on sports participation:
"Whizz-Kidz (2011) found that 57% of disabled pupils said they took part in PE as
much as other children whilst 33% said they didn’t: of those who didn’t take part in
PE as much as others, 33% felt that it was because of their disability, with 54% of
wheelchair users reporting this. Only 22% of the powered wheelchair users and
27% of manual wheelchair users took part in team games and activities all of the
time." |
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"I just don't like sports.
Equality at its finest here! "
Yeah! Have you ever tried wheelchair sports? Great fun because you can crash into people at great speed 
Lots of able bodied people play for fun and many non sporting ABs find they enjoy wheelchair sports more.
Invite always open! |
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