Aaron Phipps

Started: He began playing wheelchair rugby in 2009. (channel4.com, 21 Nov 2011) Reason: "It all started when I used to compete in wheelchair racing. I was approached by a couple of fellow racers who told me about rugby, a sport I had never heard of before. Because I love new experiences, I agreed to give it a go and I instantly fell in love. The contact, the speed and the team camaraderie were the main draws, but I also love how technical the sport is." (gbwr.org.uk, 22 Jul 2019) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (bbc.co.uk, 11 Jul 2024) Awards: He was named Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in the 2022 New Year Honours list. (gov.uk, 01 Jun 2022; skysports.com, 01 Jan 2022) He was named the 2013 Super Series Most Valuable Player [MVP]. (aaronphipps.com, 31 Dec 2016) In 2011 and 2012 he won the Hampshire Senior Disability Sports Person of the Year Award, as well as the Super Series Best High Point Player. He also received the Rising Star Award in 2011. (aaronphipps.com, 31 Dec 2016; hants.gov.uk, 19 Jan 2012) Additional Info: RETIREMENT AND COMEBACK He retired from international wheelchair rugby in 2012 to focus on his work and family. He returned to the international scene in 2017. (gbwr.org.uk, 22 Jul 2019) MOUNTAIN MAN In 2016 he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. "It taught me what my true limits were. Now, when I encounter difficult situations I think back to the moment when I had to crawl on my hands and knees for 10 hours. I remember thinking, 'Anything is possible' when I reached the top." (gbwr.org.uk, 22 Jul 2019; portsmouth.co.uk, 17 May 2019)