Paralympian from Wandsworth aims for 4th consecutive medal
Paralympian and triple bronze medallist from Wandsworth, Aaron McKibbin, is going for glory again in Paris later this month. Aaron, who will turn 33 the day before the opening ceremony, is looking forward to representing Team GB in Table Tennis for the fourth consecutive games. He was born with bilateral talipese (club foot) and competes in the Class 8 singles and class 18 doubles Table Tennis.
The Paralympics will kick off on the 28th of August.
Born and bred in Wandsworth, he is keen to inspire other young people to take up sports. He went to local schools growing up – Riversdale Primary, followed by ADT college for secondary education (now Ashcroft Technology Academy). Aaron only started playing Table Tennis properly as a 16-year-old at school. It was a wet break activity when it rained and students were not allowed out in the playground.
“My first love was actually tennis,” he says. “An after-school coach spotted me play one day and said I had talent to take up Table Tennis. I didn’t really see it as a proper sport to be honest. But I soon grew to love it and could see the similarities with tennis.”
Hearing stories about the potential to travel around the world and join international competitions convinced Aaron that Table Tennis was something worth pursuing. He joined a club in Tooting Bec called York Gardens and trained with adults. From there, the future Paralympian started playing in local competitions as well as national grand prix events. He was spotted by talent-scouts and asked if he had considered training for Paralympics trials to represent Team GB at the upcoming London 2012 games.
“Qualifications for London 2012 started and I realised I was nowhere near the standard I needed to be. So, I went from training 3 hours a week in Wandsworth to intensive 6-hour days in the national training centre in Sheffield.” He made the team and won a surprise maiden medal in London. He followed this with bronze at Rio in 2016 and then again at Tokyo 2020.
Aaron says he is now “proud to say I’ve got a disability”. The Paralympian recognises how important it is for young people to see local people like him go to the games. He hopes other young people from Wandsworth will think about taking up a sport this summer, whether they have a disability or not.
“I’m the person I am because of Table Tennis. It’s taught me discipline, hard work, problem-solving skills, the ability to interact with athletes and coaches. I’ve met people from around the world and learnt about so many different cultures.
“Sport has changed my life and I believe it has the power to do that for everyone!”
