About
Jim Roberts, a retired Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby Athlete. Born in Welshpool Powys on the 3rd of September 1987.
Jim contracted bacterial meningitis in June 2007 just after completing his first year at Coventry university. He was on life support and in a coma within twenty-four hours of coming down with symptoms of the disease. Jim would spend a total of two and a half years in hospital. He lost both legs just below the knee and has extensive scarring on his arms and hands.
This was just a speed bump though!
Not wanting to let his injuries define his future, straight after being discharged from hospital Jim returned to Coventry university to finish his Architectural Design Technology degree. Jim graduated in 2013 with a first-class honour’s and the CIAT (Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologist) outstanding student award.
Wheelchair rugby sort of just happen for Jim. He grew up playing many competitive sports, he was a keen rugby player representing his university and local club team before contracting meningitis. So, needing to find an outlet for that competitive nature, wheelchair rugby seemed the obvious choice.
The mix of physical and strategic elements to the game was perfect for Jim. Classified as a 3.0 player, Jim is one of the more functional players on the court for GB. His mix of physical presence and his technical grasp of the game saw him quickly moved through the ranks and in to the Great Britain elite team. He played in every major tournament for GB since he joined the squad in May 2013. Jim has won the European Championships twice as part of GB team.
GB won a Gold medal at the Tokyo2020 Paralympic Games
Jim has now retired from the sport of Wheelchair Rugby, and is pursuing a career as a Chartered Architectural Technologist
Getting a bit of extra motivation for one of my workouts from Molly the Bulldog
A Happy Moment in Rio
USA National championship final
Achievements
2021 Tokyo2020 Paralympic Games:
2019 European Championships:
2018 World Championships:
2017 European Championship:
2016 Rio Paralympics:
2015 European Championship:
2014 World Championships:
2013 European Championships:
Gold Medalist
Gold Medalist
4th place
Gold Medalist
5th place
Gold Medalist
5th place
Bronze Medalist
Learn More
If you would like to know more about meningitis and what symptoms to look out for please visit the meningitis website:
If you would like to know more about Wheelchair Rugby, or would like to become involved please visit the GBWR website: