Thatcham wheelchair basketball player competes for Team GB

aged 17, of The Frances, was a member of the GB squad that competed at The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, in celebration of the UK’s inaugural National Paralympic Day, marking the one-year anniversary of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Michaela, who attends Kennet School sixth form and has cerebral palsy, said that National Paralympic Day was something that the country had never seen before and a day that she was proud to be involved in.
On Saturday, her team won two out of three of their friendly games and also won their competitive match at the Copper Box Arena.
She said: “Even though the first few games were friendlies, they were very competitive.
“The event was held to highlight the Paralympics and how the movement has helped with the awareness of Paralympians.”
Michaela has played for her region for the last five years and will be attending her third Sainsbury’s School Games in a row when she captains England South from today (Thursday) until Sunday.
She has also been called up to train with the senior GB players.
“One of the most important aspects of National Paralympic Day is the fact that people from all areas have the chance to come-and-try disability sports, wherever they are,” she said.
Michaela was first encouraged by a teacher at her primary school, Speenhamland, to try out for wheelchair basketball.
She said: “At first I didn’t want to do it because I was quite independent and didn’t want to use a wheelchair.
“I could see past my disability and didn’t want to associate myself with a wheelchair.”
However, she eventually decided to give it a go by joining Thatcham-based Thames Valley Kings at the age of eight.
She said: “It was the friendly atmosphere and the team that made me want to go along.
“It made me realise that there’s nothing wrong with being in a wheelchair and it gave me confidence.
“I never used to speak to people and now I’m notorious for being the loudest on the team.”
National Paralympic Day celebrations not only took place on The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Sports clubs across the country opened their doors to offer practice sessions to their community to showcase their sport and offer ‘come-and-try’ sessions so that local people could experience the sport for themselves.