Peterborough paraplegic rower hopes to make Paris Paralympics

Ian Barrington hopes to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the Paris Paralympics

A rower left paralysed after he was shot in a mugging hopes to make it to the Paralympics after two unsuccessful attempts.

Ian Barrington, 48, of Thorney, near Peterborough, was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago.

He took up fitness after his spine was clipped by a bullet during a mugging in the Caribbean in 2005, leaving him paralysed from the waist down.

"I am really excited about my third attempt to make the games," he said.

Mr Barrington came to the UK in 2008 for specialist skin treatment for bedsores which developed after he was shot and decided to make it his home.

"During rehabilitation I was given exercises to help me and as my upper strength improved, I took up rowing," he said.

Ian Barrington started online virtual exercise sessions during the pandemic

By 2016, Mr Barrington was set to represent his home country in the single scull rowing event at the Brazilian Paralympics but deep vein thrombosis ruled him out.

He missed out again in the Tokyo games of 2020 due to Covid-19.

During the pandemic Mr Barrington went online with virtual keep-fit classes and found that wheelchair users could relate to him.

As a result he founded Wheelsheals, a counselling service aimed at empowering individuals to overcome trauma and unexpected life changes.

Mr Barrington has been training at both Cambridge and Peterborough rowing clubs and spends time at a local gym on a specially adapted rowing machine.

He is now gearing up for his third attempt to take part in a Paralympics, this time in Paris 2024.

"Representing my country on the global stage is not just about athletic prowess - it's about defying the odds, proving that resilience knows no bounds".

Mr Barrington will find out next month if he has been selected for the games.