Daniel Powell

Started: He took up the sport at age 10 after his father started a judo club in Liverpool, England. (Matside British Judo magazine, 01 Mar 2020; paralympics.org.uk, 11 Apr 2012; Athlete, 26 Aug 2012) Reason: He was encouraged by his family and followed in the footsteps of his father Terry, who also competed in Para judo. (paralympics.org.uk, 11 Apr 2012; Athlete, 26 Aug 2012) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Facebook profile, 13 Feb 2024) Additional Info: RETURN TO JUDO He left Para judo in 2013 after struggling living away from his family in Liverpool, England, while based in Dartford for training. Later that year he took up Para athletics, competing in sprint events and long jump, but returned to judo in 2018. "It was good fun but then in athletics there is the frustrations of dealing with hundredths of a second. You might train so hard for six or eight months and make a hundredth of a second either way, all the training could be for nothing. I was helping out doing some coaching at an amateur judo club and just enjoying it again. I went to a competition on a Sunday to support the kids, do a bit of coaching on the day and the head coach of the club turned round and said, 'There's some adults there if you want to jump in'. I just thought, 'Go on, might as well'. I won the competition that day and it was a real buzz." (paralympics.org.uk, 14 Nov 2018; givemesport.com, 28 Jul 2015) FATHERHOOD PERSPECTIVE He says becoming a father to his son Edward in April 2019 has changed his perspective in competition. "The first time around [before taking a break from the sport], judo was my whole world. I wanted to win for me and succeed for me. Now it's about more than just me. I love winning, but judo is no longer the only thing in my life, the relationship has changed. I love winning, and my burning desire is to get a Paralympic medal. However, if I don't get there, I still have amazing stories to tell my son in 10 years' time." (Matside British Judo magazine, 01 Mar 2020; hellomagazine.com, 08 Mar 2020) NINJA WARRIOR In 2018 he took part in the television programme 'Ninja Warrior UK'. "'Ninja Warrior' was a hundred times scarier than competing in London 2012. In London I knew what I was there to do, I knew what I was going into, I had practised loads. The crowd at 'Ninja Warrior' was amazing though, it was just like the Paralympics. It made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck." (Instagram profile, 08 Jun 2018; thesun.co.uk, 27 Apr 2018)

Sporting Relatives: His older brother Marc and his father Terry have both represented Great Britain in judo at the Paralympic Games. Marc competed at the 2012 Games in London, while Terry participated at the 1988, 1996, and 2000 editions of the Games. (SportsDeskOnline, 07 May 2021; eladvertiser.co.uk, 04 Jan 2017; paralympics.org.uk, 2012)