Benjamin Pritchard

Started: He began indoor rowing in 2016 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, before being recruited by British Rowing's Para development squad in 2017. (britishrowing.org, 01 Jun 2023) Reason: During his rehabilitation at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, he was introduced to the sport at a taster session arranged by British Rowing. "Being the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, the spinal centre at Stoke Mandeville places a huge emphasis on the benefits of sport post-injury and as such, I was presented with the opportunity to try a new sport. I can't say that I loved rowing the first time I tried it, because I hated it. But it was the fact that while I was in hospital it gave me something to compete at. Someone told me there was a leaderboard and I wanted to get on top of it. When I left Stoke Mandeville I was on the top. The main reason why I liked rowing more than other sports is that it got me out of the wheelchair, and that's the biggest thing for me. In all the other sports I tried I would still be in the chair, and being new to the chair I didn't like it. Rowing allows me to get out of my chair and feel more free." (bbc.co.uk, 25 Jun 2019; iambenpritchard.com, 10 Sep 2016) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (alloaadvertiser.com, 11 Sep 2023) Awards: During his time at Bangor University, he received the Llew Rees Memorial Prize for outstanding sporting achievement. (iambenpritchard.com, 10 Sep 2016) Additional Info: RETURN TO SPORT He competed in non-Para cross-country running, triathlon, and cycling prior to his accident. He initially struggled to deal with the prospect of not being able to return to sport before he was introduced to Para rowing at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England. "Moving from independence to being dependent on medical professionals, family, friends and at times strangers, and not forgetting most importantly, my four wheels [wheelchair], brought with it humility and the understanding that at times it is okay to not be okay. I remember the first time I cried after the crash. At Stoke Mandeville [hospital] they give you this timetable and I could see that sport was on a Tuesday. I was really looking forward to it, being an athlete, and I hadn't done anything for two months by that point. I thought if I could make it until Tuesday I would be okay. I got to Tuesday and wheeled myself to the gym, but there was a sign saying that sport had been cancelled. I was in the corridor and I just burst into tears. It broke me. It was the lowest point I have had in my entire journey." (iambenpritchard.com, 10 Sep 2016) OTHER ACTIVITIES He has served as a member of the World Rowing Athletes' Commission. (worldrowing.com, 30 Oct 2023) FURTHER EDUCATION After completing a law degree at Bangor University in 2013, he went on to study for a master's degree in maritime law at the University of Southampton from 2013 until 2014. (LinkedIn profile, 30 Sep 2023)