HI’s ambassadors compete in the Tokyo Paralympics Games

How do you feel as the Paralympics games are getting closer?

Ross: I think that everyone who is going there is going to win so it will be so difficult and so hard but I think that’s why you become an athlete, it’s to go through those challenges.

Win or lose you’ll better yourself as a person and an athlete for putting yourself through all those experiences and that’s what I am looking to do.

Now that it’s coming around finally after seeing the Olympics and seeing how well the team GB Olympians did, it was really inspiring.  It’s just around the corner now so I can’t wait to get out there and see what I can do!

Jack: I feel amazing really. I feel I’ve trained the hardest I’ve ever trained for anything. I’m just going to go out there and give it my all and whatever happens on the day does.

I’ll be proud of what I’ve achieved so far but hopefully I can bring back some medals.

I just want to get out there and see what happens and see how I get on against the rest of the world now. 

Why do you think access to sport is so important for people of all abilities?

Ross: I think across the Olympics and the Paralympics, inclusion is one of the biggest things across the board that everyone hopes to see.  That’s what I really hope to see when I go to the games.

You hear some amazing stories of how people got into their sport, and that’s from them being given those opportunities from someone.

I think for people’s wellbeing, both physical and mental wellbeing I think sport is so important. Just to be able to actually compete in things and for fun if that’s not accessible for everyone then it’s unfair.

Jack: Access to sport is absolutely crucial to everyone really.

For me, sport has not just been good to keep healthy but it’s been good for me to adapt to my disability, for me to see the world, for me to grow as a person in confidence.

I think it’s crucial to people’s development to be in a social environment to meet new friends, to make new skills, on and off the table I think it’s incredible.

Do you have a message for people with disabilities who are thinking about starting a new sport or dreaming of going to the Paralympics one day?

Ross: If you’ve got a dream or a goal and if you’re a little bit scared to do it, I think the start is the hardest bit. Get involved, have a try and you know if might not be as hard as you think. It might be more fun than you think it’s going to be.

The only way you can find out is by having a go and if you do go there and you enjoy it and you realize it’s something you want to do, I think that with dreams you should never give up. You should always follow your dreams.

Jack: The biggest advice I can give to people starting out would be to whole heartedly follow your dream no matter what.

If you have a dream out there, whether that’s sport, whether that’s in a job, whether that’s a hobby... whatever you want to do just go out there and leave everything up there that you possibly can. Leave no stone unturned of where you want to be.

ave no regret at the end of the day whether you make it or not. The achievement is in the process not in the outcome.