GODFREY Michael

Classification
TT1 (ipttc.org, 01 Aug 2021)

Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries (butterflyonline.com, 17 May 2021)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (butterflyonline.com, 17 May 2021)

Impairment Details
He lost the use of much of his lower body in a fall from a bull in 1996, after riding competitively for more than 18 years. "It shattered my fifth and sixth [cervical vertebrae]. I knew I was hurt bad. When I was rodeoing, people would ask me, 'What if you break your neck?' I told them I'll just play wheelchair sports." (nbcdfw.com, 02 Aug 2021; butterflyonline.com, 17 May 2021; yourstephenvilletx.com, 01 May 2012; media-dis-n-dat.blogspot.co.uk, 16 Jun 2009)

General
BREAKS FROM TABLE TENNIS
He competed in Para table tennis for three years after his accident but gave up the sport due to the costs associated with travelling abroad for events. In 1999 he moved from Arlington, TX, United States of America, to his parents' ranch in Dublin, TX. He then studied at Tarleton State University, did further rehabilitation, and raised bucking bulls. He later was inspired watching US swimmer Michael Phelps win eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and took up swimming in an attempt to compete in the sport at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. After he did not achieve this, he returned to table tennis. In 2015 and 2016 he took time away from table tennis again, but returned to training in 2017 after the death of his oldest son. "In the last four years [speaking in 2021], I have lost two of my kids to cystic fibrosis. When my oldest son passed away in 2017, I had no more excuses and I signed on with Pathways Core Training in Irving, Texas. It helped me get my life back on track and I started playing table tennis again in 2017." (butterflyonline.com, 17 May 2021; ProRodeo Sports News, 16 Apr 2021)