James Ball
Personal information
NationalityBritish
Born (1991-06-24) 24 June 1991
Ponthir, Wales
Sport
Country Great Britain
SportCycling
Medal record
Men's Para-cycling
Representing  Great Britain
Track World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Los Angeles Tandem B kilo
Gold medal – first place 2017 Los Angeles Tandem B sprint
Gold medal – first place 2019 Apeldoorn Tandem Kilo
Gold medal – first place 2020 Milton Tandem sprint
Silver medal – second place 2018 Rio de Janeiro Tandem B kilo
Silver medal – second place 2019 Apeldoorn Tandem Sprint
Silver medal – second place 2020 Milton Tandem Kilo
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Tandem Kilo
Gold medal – first place 2022 Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Tandem B sprint
Silver medal – second place 2022 Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Tandem B kilo
Silver medal – second place 2023 Glasgow Tandem B kilo
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Montichiari Tandem B sprint
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Rio de Janeiro Tandem B Sprint
Representing  Wales
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2018 Gold Coast Tandem B sprint
Silver medal – second place 2018 Gold Coast Tandem B kilo
Gold medal – first place 2022 Birmingham Tandem B sprint
Silver medal – second place 2022 Birmingham Tandem B kilo

James Ball (born 24 June 1991) is a Welsh Paralympic cyclist who competes in tandem races as an athlete with a visual impairment.[1] A multiple world champion across the tandem sprint events, Ball's latest title came in 2021, further cementing his partnership alongside Lewis Stewart where they won silver in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Cycling career

Welshman Ball started his sporting career as a swimmer, before moving to athletics. The visually-impaired athlete was in-line to earn selection in track and field for ParalympicsGB at London 2012, however suffered an injury which ended those aspirations.

On his journey back to full fitness, Ball took part in turbo testing arranged by British Cycling, and his potential on a bike was discovered.

Paired with pilot Craig McLean, Ball took a bronze medal away from his first world championships, in 2016. Paralympic selection – and fifth place in the kilo – followed, before a golden 2017 saw Ball and Matt Rotherham win a sprint double at the world championships in Los Angeles.

Further medals were gained – at both the world championships and the Commonwealth Games – in 2018 where he won Wales's first medal, a silver in the men's B&VI 1,000m time trial.[2]

Ball returned to the top step of the podium at the 2019 world championships, winning the kilo alongside Pete Mitchell.

In 2020 Ball teamed up with Stewart, and the partnership got off to a hugely promising start, winning sprint gold and kilo silver at the world championships in Milton.

In 2021 Ball expanded his collection landing the silver in the men's 1000m time trial at the Tokyo games, further cementing his partnership with Lewis Stewart where they narrowly missed out on the gold to fellow GB teammates Neil Fachie and Matt Rotherham.

Personal history

Ball was born in 1991, and comes from Ponthir in Wales.

References

  1. ↑ "James Ball". britishcycling.org.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Commonwealth Games: Para-cyclist James Ball wins Wales' first medal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
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