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 January 17, 1988) is a British Paralympic table tennis player. He is known for being a world number one player. Will won a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics and was also a World Champion in 2014.
In 2019, Will Bayley joined the TV show Strictly Come Dancing. He danced with professional dancer Janette Manrara.
About Will Bayley's Life
Will Bayley was born in Royal Tunbridge Wells, England. He was born with a condition called arthrogryposis. This condition affects all four of his arms and legs.
When he was seven years old, Will was diagnosed with cancer. During his recovery, his grandmother bought him a table tennis table. This is how he started playing the sport.
Will Bayley's Table Tennis Career
Will joined the Byng Hall Table Tennis Club when he was 12. He even played for Kent's team against players without disabilities. From age 17, he trained full-time at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
Early Paralympic Games
Will first represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. He competed in the table tennis singles event but was knocked out early. He also played in the team event, where his team reached the quarterfinals.
In 2009 and 2010, Will won gold medals at international competitions. These included events in the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, and Brazil.
Becoming World Number One
In 2011, Will won a gold medal at the European Championships in Croatia. He also won a silver medal in the team event. At the end of 2011, other European players voted him the "Players' Player of the Year." In January 2012, he became the world number one player.
Paralympic Medals
Will won a silver medal at the London 2012 Summer Paralympics. He lost in the final of his class 7 event.
At the Rio 2016 Paralympics, Will won his first Paralympic gold medal. He beat a Brazilian player in the final. He was so excited that he jumped onto the table to celebrate!
He won another silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 games (which happened in 2021). This was his third medal in a row at the Paralympics. He also won a silver medal in the team event at the Tokyo games.
Will Bayley was given an award called Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2017. This was for his great achievements in table tennis.
Will Bayley on Strictly Come Dancing
In September 2019, Will Bayley took part in the TV show Strictly Come Dancing. He was paired with professional dancer Janette Manrara.
Memorable Dance
Will and Janette performed a special 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 found their dance very moving.
Injury and Withdrawal
Will had to leave the competition early due to a knee injury. He got the injury during a rehearsal. He was very sad to stop dancing, saying he was "gutted" his journey had to end.
See also
In Spanish: Will Bayley para niños
