“Kayaking has been amazing for rehabilitation, utilising muscles that I medically didn’t think I would be able to use again,”
To mark International Wheelchair Day, we spoke with Tom Price, an up-and-coming paracanoe athlete who discovered the Paralympic dream just two months after a life-changing accident.
Tom was a promising cyclist, racing week in, week out both nationally and internationally.
However, riding back from his university placement in December 2023, Tom was involved in a crash that left him with a broken T5 vertebra.
“I was always riding a bike.” He said.
“I had the chance to race nationally and internationally. I was up and down the country most weekends, especially in my first year at university.
“My whole life I’ve always cycled and that was the only sport for me.
“I’d done two years of uni and I was in my year in industry. I was using my commute as training, cycling to work and back.
“I was riding home on 6 December 2023. I was on a country lane and just came around a corner and there was a lorry parked up. I crashed right into the back of that.
“I broke my back there. I broke T5 and that’s where my injury level is.”
With sport a driving factor in his life, Tom’s mindset was instantly on what his next sporting challenge could be. He began to dream of reaching the Paralympics.
“It was literally within an hour or two in the MRI, when I was like ‘the Paralympics’, that’s my aim. My mentality switched quickly because sport is always in life.
“I did one month in hospital in Leicester, just medically healing and then I got moved to Sheffield Spinal Unit for another month.
From there, Tom went on the hunt for his next sport at a WheelPower Sports Festival being held in Sheffield.
It was there where he found paracanoe through pathway coach Attila Herbent. Tom was classified in the sport as a KL1/VL1 athlete.
He now regularly trains at his local club of Royal Leamington Spa, as well as being invited to train in Nottingham, at the National Water Sports Centre.
“I was trying stuff like rugby and table tennis when Attila came over and asked if I was interested in kayaking. I knew a few people in the sport who he happened to coach. He encouraged me to come down and try the sport from there and I haven’t looked back.
“Next, I was into the classification process where I had a chance to meet people get out on the water and try the boat out.
“The classification process was so easy and everyone was friendly. It was a great opportunity to work out what I could and couldn’t do, whilst trying different boats and different seats.
“I’ve been training twice a week over at Lemington Spa. It’s been amazing. To start with I fell straight in, but that was okay and you’re taught about what to do when that happens.
“Now I’ve really started to pick up on technique and how I’m feeling in the boat.
“The club setting has been great.
“It’s been cool seeing the younger guys with their speed, but it’s cool to see the difference in paracanoe training compared to able-bodied. It’s a nice club where everyone’s just really friendly.”
Since getting involved in the sport, Tom has seen dramatic improvements in his life outside of the boat.
Before he started kayaking, he had trouble putting a t-shirt on due to his core function, but the more he’s paddled and trained, he’s seen amazing results in his core strength and has been able to use muscles he never thought he’d be able to use again.
“A big part for me was getting involved in a sport challenged my balance, within the first four, five months of my injury.
“ I came with minimal ability to utilise any of the core functions I’ve got.
“Kayaking has given me so much over time. Before I struggled to put my t-shirt on, but since being in the sport, things like that have suddenly become a lot easier.
“I’ve got more balance and strength in the boat and that translates to sitting in my wheelchair.
“Although it’s just a sport, I’ve found it amazing for rehabilitation, utilising muscles that I medically didn’t think I would be able to use.”
Coming up to a year of paddling since his accident, Tom has started to dream about what’s next for him in paracanoe.
Coming from a sporting background, he’s applied what he learnt from his time in cycling, looking at those intricate details of how he can improve, whilst simply enjoying the sport and the community that comes with it.
Despite being relatively new to the sport, he’s planned his next route through the system, with the dream of going to the Paralympics at LA2028 or Brisbane2032.
“The sport has been fantastic. I’m looking forward to the summer months but I enjoy paddling all year round. You’re in the fresh air with people, having a laugh. I also really enjoy technique, working on small improvements that make a massive difference.
“I’ve loved ‘nerding out’ about the differences.
“I’m aiming for the Paralympics. That’s the dream. I’ve just got to put the work in, aim for the big leagues, aim for Paralympics.
“Currently, I want to the race the regattas in Notingham, put the work in and see how it goes.
“I’m studying sound engineering and production, which I love. It’s such a good degree for me.
“My routine has been uni for three days and then two days I can dedicate fully to getting in the boat, getting on the water. It’s worked really well.
“My girlfriend’s at university in Nottingham. I can easily go over to her, and stay with her if I want to train at Holme Pierrepont. My short term goal is working on consistency.
“At the minute, I might have a good 100 metres and then an inconsistent 100 metres. I’m trying to improve in those areas. I’ll then race the April regatta, and try and put a good time down.
“I just want to race as much as possible, get used to that environment and setup and procedures that go into competing.”