Madeleine Thompson - Wheelchair Basketball
I started playing wheelchair basketball when I was 10 years old, and have played ever since, although at that time I wasn’t very good, but they all said that if I worked at it I would make the Paralympics in 2012 in London, with the improvement that I had made in such little time, I was very fast for my age therefore I could move my chair very easily in defence so ever since I have been making this my main target to reach.
In 2006 I played for Yorkshire and participated in the Norwich Union Junior Champs u15’s which we received 1st place, then in 2006/ 2007 I tuck part in the junior League which we won again, however in mid 2007 we played the Lord Taverners Championships, which we battled right until the end losing the finals making us come 2nd place, then lately we had the Lords Taverners Junior League which we struggled through as we only had 5 players therefore had no subs, so each player was forced to their limits, but with great success we came 3rd place.
I have done a lot of filming with basketball a few of us from Sheffield Steelers played wheelchair basketball against DIY SOS (Nick Knowles) show which was really fun to take part in. Also with Great Britain I did a dvd for promotion and to show others how improving helps you to reach the top, the dvd over all was brilliant, it was amazing how they showed a player’s progress from been at a park where two abled bodied players played basketball and me and another young boy called Carl was inspired by them and tried to have ago in our wheelchairs. Then at a beginning level which meant that I was unable to reach the basket, then getting into G.B and been coached by Haj the G.B juniors coach, then playing for Yorkshire in the championships, and been morphed in Claire Strange, and playing in the Paralympics.
The last 6 months have been amazing for me, as I got into the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Team, which was such reward as I am only thirteen the youngest to make it into the G.B team. Then this followed me finishing my club (Sheffield Steelers) session with an abroad trip to Italy which we played against the Poland national team and the Italian national team which was an amazing. However getting into G.B means a lot of effort and time been put into it to make yourself the best that you can be, but this pays off, mine did by going to Turkey, to play for Great Britain in the European’s under 22’s Championship. This experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity as it only happens once every 4 years.