Rise Above the Odds with James Roberts

James Roberts is a living testimony that disability is not inability. James has been fortunate enough over the years to have represented Great Britain at countless World Championships and 2 Paralympics Games (Beijing 2008 and London 2012), to name a few. In this episode, James will share his sporting and coaching journey with us. Also, he will give us a taste of his thought-provoking perspective.  Listen into this episode as James tells us how he has managed to rise above the odds. Getting to Know James Robert Better  James was born with a congenital disability called femoral dysplasia, a floating hip of the left leg, and scoliosis of the spine. He grew up on a NATO base in S.H.A.P.E (Casteau), Belgium, but resides back in Prestatyn, North Wales. He is a transformation coach by trade, but he was an elite Paralympic athlete for just over a decade. How James transitioned from Swimming to other sports James transitioned to rowing after being dropped from GB swimming programmes and went into rowing in 2006. In the same year, he participated in the World Championships in Dorney Lake, Great Britain and made the final, finishing 6th. 2007 World Championships Semi-Finalist, 2008 Paralympic Finalist (5th) and 2009 World Championships Finalist (5th). In 2012, James made another transition of sport, this time to sitting volleyball. From 2010 until 2012, he amassed 56 caps for Great Britain.   Timestamps: [00:59] James as a transformational coach and his sports journey [17:08] James transitioned from Swimming to other sports [47:35] How James remains positive Quotes “Socialism works to a point, but nobody wants to be on any playing field. Nobody wants to have the same thing.” “It’s okay to go backwards to learn from that as opposed to being nostalgic.” “You can learn from things in the past, but don’t live in it.” “Every athlete wants to go out on the nice shining horse and ride off into the sunset.” “We’re kind of seeing where people have let things slip and are not taking care of themselves. The demons are coming out of the closet.”   Connect with James: Website: fitamputee.co.uk  Facebook Page: facebook.com/jamesoroberts11  Twitter : twitter.com/jamesoroberts11  Instagram: instagram.com/jamesoroberts11