James Murray speaks to Gaz Choudhry about challenges facing disabled athletes

Gaz Choudhry started playing wheelchair basketball at the age of 12, two years after having his leg amputated because of bone cancer. 

The GB international looked up to the likes of basketball icons Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant for inspiration, as the achievements of disabled athletes weren’t widely broadcasted. 

“The Paralympic movement has grown so much,” he says. “Back then, I didn’t even know any para-athletes or anything about the Paralympics. The visibility that’s out there now is night and day.” 

‘A lot of change’ has happened in para-sports

The 36-year-old has experienced a number of great highs within the game – the most recent of which came at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where he led the team as player-coach to a bronze medal in the absence of GB head coach Haj Bhania. 

Choudhry, who was recently shortlisted for the 2021 greatest coaching moment for his role at the Games, says there’s been “a lot of change” in the sport since he started playing. 

“One of the biggest jumps has been the technological innovation,” he adds. “The chairs are better, the athletes are better, and there are professional leagues in Spain, Germany, Italy, France and Turkey, which means more athletes have the opportunity to train and play full-time.” 

But the Pakistani-born para-athlete says the time has come where we “have to start thinking about a more diverse range of stories from people with disabilities”. 

“All Paralympians are incredible,” he adds. “But they’re absolute outliers in every shape and form. 

“They’re thriving despite their disabilities and sometimes because their disabilities allowed them to reach incredible feats.” 

‘Still a lot of work to be done’ in integrating disabled people into society

Choudhry insists the “spectrum of disability is vast”. In the UK alone, 14.1 million people are registered as disabled, with just 4.4 million currently in work. 

“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” says the three-time Paralympian. “As we expand the diversity of stories about disabled people, it’s only going to make the world a better place. 

“I think the biggest thing para-athletes have to continue doing is be excellent at what they do, but also speak about the fact this isn’t the only story about disabled people. 

“The para-athlete stories are in the positive, inspirational form and we should continue to push boundaries. But we have a responsibility to make sure we speak on issues. 

“I know para-athletes that still can’t get to training because the train or bus is inaccessible. There are legitimate concerns that we have to highlight can be practically made better.”