Paralympic basketballer wants to see sport grow

Sophie Carrigill made her Paralympic debut in 2016

A Paralympic wheelchair basketballer has said it would be amazing to see the sport grow as she prepares to compete in the upcoming Paris games.

Sophie Carrigill said she had goosebumps thinking about the games, and was already imagining herself on the podium.

The 30-year-old former University of Worcester student said she was excited about competing in Paris after having competed in the Tokyo 2021 games while Covid restrictions were in place.

"I'm so excited that crowds are going to be there, [Tokyo] didn't feel the same and I love performing in front of a crowd.

Carrigill was 16-years-old when she broke her back and spinal cord in a car accident while on holiday. The accident left her paralysed from the waist down.

She took up the sport after watching the GB women lose in the 2012 Paralympics quarter-finals.

The former University of Worcester student, who is from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, made her Paralympic debut in Rio 2016 when she was co-captain of the GB team.

Carrigill hopes the legacy of the Paralympics encourages people to see wheelchair basketball for the exciting sport it is.

"It would be amazing to see the sport grow even more so people could play professionally, get the funding and the media attention that it needs to push it forward."

At 16-years-old Sophie Carrigill broke her back and spinal cord

Looking forward to competing later in August, she said: "As a team we've been on lots of highs and lots of lows, but winning a medal would be the pinnacle, whatever colour it is.

"It's going to be amazing that we're going to be able to have our family and friends there.

"I would be so so proud of us as a team," she said.

The 2024 Paralympic Games will open on 28 August.