Ben Bartram, Dahnon Ward & Abbie Breakwell look ahead to their first Paralympic Games in Paris
• 3 MINUTE READ
The Paralympics is the ultimate elite competition in disability sport and offers some of the biggest prizes for wheelchair tennis athletes.
The opportunity to play and compete for Great Britain is an experience unlike any other and is something that players can take away with them for the rest of their lives.
This year, ParalympicsGB is taking an eight-player strong team, with a mix of experience and youth. For four of the competitors – Ben Bartram, Dahnon Ward, Abbie Breakwell and Greg Slade – it will be their first time at a Paralympic Games and the excitement is starting to build for the rising British stars.
We caught up with Bartram, Ward and Breakwell at the National Tennis Centre before the team fly out to France to chat about what they are most looking forward to during their Paralympic debuts.
How are you feeling ahead of your first Paralympic Games?
Breakwell: I’m so excited, I’ve never done this before. It’s something completely new and my main thing going out there is to just soak up every single bit of the experience.
Bartram: Yeah, I’m super excited. The Paralympics is something I’ve always dreamed of since I was younger and to think that dream is going to be coming true in a short amount of time is very exciting. I’m really looking forward to it.
Ward: I’m really excited – I don’t think I’ll really know what to expect until I’m there but I’m just buzzing right now.
What was that experience like getting the phone call to say you were in the squad?
Bartram: It was a bit of a nervy one. I sort of had a feeling that that’s what the call was going to be based off my ranking at the time.
I knew the selection was coming up and as soon as I heard those words that I was selected to play for GB at the Paralympics, my heart sank and I was just so excited from then on.
Ward: At first I wasn’t too shocked because I knew I’d made the cut but over the past few weeks as we’ve been getting closer to the event it’s just got more and more exciting.
Breakwell: It was something else. Originally, I didn’t get in and had to wait for a wild card. I got a phone call while I was out celebrating one of my friends’ birthday and he was like ‘so… so?’ and I said hang on, I need to ring my Mum and let her know first.
Watching Alfie (Hewett) getting two silvers there was a big inspiring moment in my life. That inspired me to start playing.
What are you most excited for in Paris?
Ward: All of it really. Just wearing the kit is exciting. Getting to go to the Village, seeing all the sports, the opening ceremony, I’m really looking forward to it.
Breakwell: Everything. I’ve seen so much online, I don’t even know where to start for what I want to see and do first. Obviously, I want to play my sport and compete in the tennis, but there’s so many experiences that I haven’t done yet and I want to go and do all of them.
Bartram: I’m looking forward to the whole experience of the Paralympics, not only the tennis, obviously I’m really excited for that too. It’s my first Paralympics so I’m going to try and do as much as I can, make the absolute most of it and have an absolute blast while I’m there.
Have any of the seniors players given you any advice ahead of the Games?
Breakwell: I think they are keeping it all a bit secret to let us experience it and just enjoy the moment. If they tell us we’ll be expecting it and every single Paralympics is different. Some of these players like Lucy (Shuker), my doubles partner, she’s been to quite a few now and she said that they aren’t all the same and they all have their own slight twang to them and I’m waiting to see what this one is and to just enjoy it.
Bartram: Just to enjoy it really. They’ve just said it’s different to any other tournament on the calendar and that it’s just such a cool experience so I’m really looking forward to getting out there.
Honestly, it’s another way of living when you finally get that call. Everything you’ve worked for; all that hard work is finally paying off.
How much did you look up to them playing at Paralympics in the past?
Bartram: I’ve watched the Paralympics since London. Rio was sort of the real eye opener for me, watching Alfie (Hewett) getting two silvers there was a big inspiring moment in my life. That inspired me to start playing.
Ward: Pretty much since London I was obsessed with it. Rio was a big one for me – I remember watching all of those matches back trying to look for some inspiration.
Breakwell: Massively. I grew up watching Lucy and Jordanne (Whiley) – I watched them in Rio and Tokyo just thinking how I wanted to be them and now I’m playing doubles with Lucy, the person I admired from my TV. To have someone with that much experience to help guide you when you have those nerves, it can make such a difference.
How are you feeling in your game heading out to Paris?
Ward: There are a few things to work on but hopefully by the time matches come around I’ll be ready for it and hopefully I can go out there feeling confident.
Breakwell: I’m felling ready for it. A busy summer is always quite tiring, but we’ve had a lot of training now, bit of rest time and I’m ready to restart and go again.
Bartram: I feel like I’m in a good place with my game and playing some good tennis right now. I’m looking forward to seeing how I can do out there on the court.
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