344: James Roberts: Bridging the Gap Between Fitness and Disability

On this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, James Roberts joins me to discuss disability and fitness. James Roberts was born with a congenital disability called femoral dysplasia and a floating hip of the left leg as well as scoliosis of the spine. James grew on a NATO base in S.H.A.P.E (Casteau), Belgium but now reside back in Prestatyn, North Wales. James is an online training and nutrition coach by trade, but was an elite Paralympic athlete for just over a decade. James has been lucky enough over those years to have represented Great Britain at countless World Championships and 2 Paralympics Games (Beijing 2008 and London 2012) to just name a few.

In this episode, we discuss:

-James’ exciting career as a multisport Paralympics athlete

-Bridging the gap between disability and fitness

-Are people with disabilities underestimated?

-How to reach your ideal clients through social media

-And so much more!

 

Growing up, James always challenged himself to never let his disability limit his development, asking himself, “Well how can I adapt this simple and mundane task now so that I can integrate with my peers.” As a result of his perseverance, “I’ve learnt different skill sets and it’s made me the person I am today speaking to you.”

 

James tailor’s programs to each of his client’s goals and not to their disability as he is, “Looking at what’s this person’s ability and what are they actually capable of and pushing them to those extremes.” When working with client’s with disabilities, he stresses, “Treat them no differently than you would treat an able bodied client.”

 

For more information on James:

I was born with a congenital disability called femoral dysplasia and a floating hip of the left leg as well as scoliosis of the spine. I grew on a NATO base in S.H.A.P.E (Casteau), Belgium but now reside back in Prestatyn, North Wales. I'm an online training and nutrition coach by trade, but I was an elite Paralympic athlete for just over a decade. I've been lucky enough over those years to have represented Great Britain at countless World Championships and 2 Paralympics Games (Beijing 2008 and London 2012) to just name a few.

 

I started out my sporting career in swimming and was part of British Swimming's Potential Squad from 2003-05. During that time, I held the SB8 200m breaststroke and 50m breaststroke national records.

After being dropped from the GB swimming programme, I moved on to rowing in 2006. The transition happened fairly quickly as I made my first senior international competition that summer at the 2006 World Championships in Dorney Lake, Great Britain and made the final finishing 6th. 2007 World Championships Semi-Finalist, 2008 Paralympic Finalist (5th) and 2009 World Championships Finalist (5th).

 

I made another transition of sport, this time to sitting volleyball. From 2010 until 2012, I amassed 56 caps for Great Britain. My first international was a surprise selection to compete at the 2010 World Championships in Edmund, Oklahoma, USA. I was lucky enough that my time with the squad, to have competed for Great Britain at my only European Championships in my repertoire as well as a Continental and Intercontinental Cup. My career calumniated at the London 2012 Paralympics were the GB sitting volleyball squad lost in the quarter-final to eventual silver medallist Iran.

 

So why the website?

 

Having a disability myself I completely understand the adversity one can face on a day-to-day basis. Also, I wanted to bridge that gap between mainstream fitness and disability, as there is not a lot of fitness topics about for people with disability to widen their knowledge and/or to just improve their quality of living.

 

Resources discussed on this show:

Fit Amputee Website

Mind Set Game Podcast

James Roberts Facebook

James Roberts Instagram

James Roberts Twitter

James Roberts YouTube

Fit Amputee Resources

Fit Amputee Media

 

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Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!

 

Xo Karen