Will Bayley, 22, was born with a rare disorder called arthrogryposis. According to Wikipedia:
Arthrogryposis, also known as Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, is a rare congenital disorder that is characterized by multiple jointcontractures and can include muscle weakness and fibrosis. It is a non-progressive disease. The disease derives its name from Greek, literally meaning ‘curved or hooked joints’.
Will started playing table tennis at age 12. After being diagnosed with cancer as an eight-year-old , and after years of chemotherapy, his grandmother bought him a table tennis table to keep him active during his recovery and it has turned into a full time vocation.
Despite his health complication, Will is ranked second in the world, and favored to win gold at next year’s Paralympics. In order to prepare for the games, Will can be cound training rigorously for 6 hours a day. He is confident in his chances, but he isn’t slacking off.
“I’ve been training really hard and I’m thinking about going to China,” he said. “I’m training full-time in Sheffield at the moment, which is the national centre for table tennis.”
Currently, Will is training extra hard, and fighting to find more sponsorship. Training and traveling aboard can be expensive for any athlete, but it provides more growth opportunity.
“China is a really good place to train. Everyone plays table tennis there,” says Will.
Will is extremely optimistic about his future in table tennis, and looking forward to coming out on top at the Paralympics. As far as his disability goes, Will says, that it mainly affects his legs, but that he makes up for it with gym work. Will Bayley represented Great Britain in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, which he has described as being the best moment of his life.
We’re excited to see what Will Bayley will accomplish in the future!
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