Krysten Coombs: I can’t wait for ‘proper Paralympic atmosphere’
July 16, 2024
There are now just 43 days until the 2024 Paralympics get underway in Paris. The ParalympicsGB badminton squad has been selected, including three returning Paralympians and one debutant, and in the coming weeks we will hear from each of them in a blog on the Badminton England website. First up, Krysten Coombs, who won bronze when badminton made its Paralympic debut in Tokyo…
I know how it feels to podium at a Paralympic Games. Now I can’t wait to experience a proper Paralympic atmosphere at Paris 2024.
Winning para-badminton bronze in Tokyo was a dream come true, acting as the culmination of years of graft in the sport.
It was a moment made extra special by the fact my medal was the last of the 124 medals won by ParalympicsGB at Tokyo 2020 – a cool little bit of history to boast, even if it was completely out of my control.
However, there was one thing missing from my Paralympic triumph. Winning my bronze medal match in an eerie, echoey arena, I couldn’t help but yearn for the presence of friends, family and fans, who were all absent due to the restrictions of the pandemic.
I am therefore ecstatic to get another shot flying the GB flag at the Paralympic Games, with Paris 2024 posing a whole new experience to the one I enjoyed three years ago.
As well as having my loved ones in the stands, it will be surreal to have thousands of fans watching me go for gold, something which is far from the norm for para badminton.
Added pressure there may be, but given the fact my Tokyo celebrations consisted of a Zoom call with my family, having them there in attendance will only push me on to go even better than my previous Paralympic success.
Regaining a place on the podium is something I am confident of achieving. It has been a great few months leading up to the Games and I can’t wait to get going.
That said, there is more to Paris than just medals for me. I want to promote para sport and the incredible impact they can have on people’s lives, including my own.
Growing up, sport was everything to me. Introduced to the athletic world by the Dwarf Sports Association, I spent my time swimming as well as playing table tennis and football before discovering badminton.
It’s vital that sport is seen as accessible to everyone – you don’t have to be elite athletes to get involved.
If you get the opportunity, join a club of the sport you love, because it’s great to live that healthy lifestyle while taking part in something that’s sociable as well.
I’ve more than reaped the rewards of involving myself in para sport, with badminton taking me to lofty heights I would have struggled to imagine as a child.
But as I prepare to tackle my second Paralympics, I will be sure to not let the bright lights and increased number of eyes get the better of me, utilising my career outside of sport to handle the pressure.
As an actor with credits in Game of Thrones, The Witcher and an array of pantomimes, I know how to perform in front of the cameras.
And with media presence at its peak during the Paralympics, I’ll hope to use my cool exterior to my advantage as I strive for a place on the podium.
