Will Bayley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Will BayleyMBE |
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Bayley in 2023
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| Full name | William John Bayley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 17 January 1988 Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England |
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Medal record
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William John Bayley (born 17 January 1988) is an amazing British Paralympic table tennis player. He is currently ranked as the world's number one player in his class! Will won a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games and was also the World Champion in 2014. He has achieved many amazing things in his career.
In September 2019, Will also showed off his dancing skills on the TV show Strictly Come Dancing. He was paired with professional dancer Janette Manrara.
Contents
About Will Bayley
Early Life and Health
Will Bayley was born on January 17, 1988, in Royal Tunbridge Wells, England. He was born with a condition called arthrogryposis. This condition affects all four of his limbs, meaning it impacts how his arms and legs move.
When he was seven years old, Will was diagnosed with cancer. During his recovery, his grandmother bought him his first table tennis table. This is how he started playing the sport he loves!
Becoming a Table Tennis Star
At 12 years old, Will joined the Byng Hall Table Tennis Club. He even played for Kent's team, which was made up of players without disabilities. From the age of 17, he has lived and trained full-time at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. This is a special place where athletes train to become the best.
Will's Paralympic Journey
First Paralympic Games
Will represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. He competed in the table tennis C7 singles event. He also played in the C6-8 team event with Paul Karabardak and David Wetherill.
Winning Medals and World Ranking
In 2009, Will won gold medals at the Czech and German Open tournaments. The next year, 2010, he won more golds in Lignano and Brazil.
He won a gold medal in singles at the 2011 European Championships in Split, Croatia. He also won a silver medal in the men's Team event. At the end of 2011, he was voted the European Players' Player of the Year. In January 2012, he became the world number one player!
London 2012 and Rio 2016
Will won a silver medal at the London 2012 Summer Paralympics. He then went on to win his first Paralympic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympics. He beat Israel Pereira Stroh from Brazil in the final. Will was so excited that he jumped onto the table to celebrate!
Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024
Will continued his success at the Tokyo 2020 Games (which happened in 2021). He won another silver medal, his third Paralympic medal in a row. He also won a silver medal in the team event. Most recently, he won another silver medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in the singles C7 event.
In 2017, Will Bayley was given an award called Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This was to recognize his amazing contributions to table tennis.
Will on Strictly Come Dancing
In September 2019, Will Bayley joined the TV show Strictly Come Dancing. This is a popular show where celebrities learn to dance with professional partners. Will was paired with professional dancer Janette Manrara.
One of their most memorable dances was a Contemporary dance to the song "7 Years". They dedicated this dance to the patients and staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital. This is the hospital where Will was treated for cancer when he was seven years old. Many people watching were very touched by their performance.
Unfortunately, Will had to leave the competition early. He got a knee injury during a rehearsal. He was very sad to stop, saying he was "gutted" that his journey had to end.
See also
In Spanish: Will Bayley para niños
