A LAW graduate from Bangor University will be competing in the Paralympics this weekend as a member of the Great Britain Paralympic Rowing Team.

Ben Pritchard, originally from Mumbles, Swansea, will take part in the PR1 men’s single scull event in Tokyo on August 27, 28 and 29.

Ben, 29, said: “I cannot put into words how happy I am to be out here in Tokyo right now. I feel like a kid in a sweet shop.

“Sharing the dinner hall with athletes I have watched on TV and admired is such a surreal experience, and now I get to call them teammates.

“It is an incredible experience and I am relishing every opportunity.

“Every athlete comes to the Paralympics to win. We wouldn't be athletes without that competitive mindset.

“A realistic goal for me is a podium finish – fifth place – and that is what I am going out there to achieve.

“I think the biggest thing as a debutant is to make sure you saviour and enjoy every moment, because you never know if this will be your first and last games or if you'll make it back.

“So, I am making sure that I take a moment each day to ensure I am enjoying myself.”

As a student, Ben received one of Bangor University’s main sports prizes, the Llew Rees Memorial Prize, awarded to an outstanding athlete, and represented British Triathlon at the European and World Age Group Championships during third year.

While at university, Ben was active in the Athletic Union, picking up full colours for hockey and cycling and blues for triathlon, and also sampling Gaelic football.

In 2016, though, he sustained a spinal injury as a result of a cycling accident, and then decided to focus on the Paralympics from 2019, becoming a full-time athlete.

He added: “Initially, I disliked the rowing machine as I found it too difficult and a little on the boring side.

“However, a friend and fellow patient mentioned to me that there was a leaderboard being kept by the physios, and that was it.

“I was hooked on trying to go faster and faster - the natural progression was to reach out to British Rowing and see what the next steps were.”

Ben also made his international rowing debut in 2019, when he was placed third at the World Cup and fourth at the World Championships.

He is now focused solely on adding to his collection of his medals at the Paralympics in Tokyo.

Ben added: “The short-term focus is Tokyo, and then some well-earned rest and relaxation.

“I am sure my fiancé will get me heavily involved in our postponed wedding, and I look forward to spending some time with friends and family.

“COVID has meant that a lot of the normal friends and family time has had to be compromised for my end goal of competing here at Tokyo.

“My long-term goal is to provide a bursary to a sporty athlete at the university, as I was very lucky to receive the Llew Rees Memorial Prize, and would love to help (give) a young sportsperson the opportunity to develop their craft, just like I had the chance to do at the university.”