RYAN CLINCHES GOLD
Paralympic wheelchair rugby champion Chris Ryan is basking in the glow of an exceptional week, securing his first gold in Para table tennis. This triumph follows his earlier success, clinching silver and bronze at the ITTF Brazilian Open. Remarkably, it has been just 10 months since his international debut and less than two years since he led the national wheelchair rugby team to its inaugural Paralympic gold at Tokyo 2020.
Expressing his pride, Ryan, hailing from Welwyn Garden City, shared, "It's been an amazing week, and it's been great to win. I feel like this is the first time that I've played like I can in training for a consistent period." The 32-year-old, paralyzed from the chest down in a car crash at 17, teamed up with Spanish partner Daniel Rodriguez to secure the men's class 4 doubles title in Sao Paolo on Sunday. This victory marked an upgrade from their bronze at the French Para Table Tennis Open the previous year, overpowering Brazil's home favorites in the final with a convincing 3-0 win.
In addition to his doubles success, Ryan claimed bronze in the mixed class 4-7 doubles alongside teammate Megan Shakleton. Shakleton herself secured GB's second gold of the tournament in the women's class 4-5 singles. Despite facing a 3-0 defeat in the semi-final against Chileans Luis Bustamante Flores and Tamara Leonelli Leonelli, Ryan praised his doubles partners, highlighting the valuable experience gained in navigating the intricacies of doubles compared to singles. Ryan's impressive medal collection also includes a silver in the men's class 2 singles final against the world number five, Luis Rodrigo Bustamante Flores from Chile, who triumphed 3-1. A recipient of the Welwyn and Hatfield Sportsperson of the Year award, Ryan, who had once aspired to turn professional as a golfer before his life-altering accident, has shown resilience and determination throughout his sporting journey.
Introduced to wheelchair rugby during rehab in 2010, Ryan joined a London club and, in 2013, earned a spot in the GB squad, later named vice-captain. Leading the team at Rio 2016, he guided them to their third consecutive European Championships title in 2019. His pinnacle moment came at Tokyo 2020, where he captained the GB team to a historic 54-49 victory over the three-time Games' champions, the USA.
Now making waves in Para table tennis, Ryan contemplates the prospect of his third Paralympics at Paris 2024 in August. Reflecting on his performance in Brazil, he said, "There are a couple of things I can work on to take it to the next level, and I can't wait to build on this performance."