BYWATER Terry

Classification
4.5 (paralympics.org.uk, 02 Jul 2021)

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (Athlete, 20 Jul 2016)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (Athlete, 20 Jul 2016)

Impairment Details
At age two his left leg was amputated below the knee because he was born without a tibia and fibula. (Athlete, 20 Jul 2016; bbc.co.uk, 03 May 2018)

General
FAMILY SUPPORT
He says winning gold at the 2018 World Championships in Hamburg, Germany, was made particularly special because he go to share the experience with his family. "I had no idea how it would feel to actually become a world champion. It's something I've wanted all my life. When the final buzzer went it was just relief and emotion, uncontrollable tears of joy. My family were there, which made it all the more magical. My wife Jodie and son Benjamin go everywhere and have followed me for years. Benjamin loves wheelchair basketball now, he's my number one fan. And without Jodie I wouldn't be where I am now. They deserve it as much as I do." (gazettelive.co.uk, 04 Sep 2018)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
In 2020 he was appointed as the European representative on the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation [IWBF] Athlete Steering Committee. "With over 20 years of experience playing wheelchair basketball at the highest level and playing in 20 major championships, I know exactly how an athlete thinks and what an athlete needs. I'm very passionate about the sport that I love and have dedicated my life to. I feel it's very important to have athlete representation within IWBF to help make the correct decisions to not only shape the sport for the here and now but also for the future. The future of our wonderful sport is down to the athletes and we need to make sure we keep improving on all levels making the future of wheelchair basketball even better than what it is now with lots of great competitions across the globe." (iwbf.org, 20 Oct 2020)