Video: David Phillipson speaking to Owen Shipton on Sports Week
A wheelchair tennis star from Bingham who has represented Team GB at three different Paralympic Games has said he will switch sports for Tokyo 2020.
David Phillipson played at the Rio 2016 Games just 10 months ago and announced his decision to retire from wheelchair tennis in April earlier this year.
However the former junior world number two and British number one has said he is aiming to represent Team GB at the next Paralympic Games – in paracanoeing.
Speaking on Sports Week, David said: “It’s definitely a change but I think it will really push my abilities in this sport and get to the best of what I can be.
“I think this year I need to just keep training hard and get on the Team GB program at the end of the year and I’m putting down some good times so I’m hoping the European Championships aren’t too far away in July.
“The main goal is to get confident in the boat, get my stroke rate right, get a good technique and see what happens.”
Paralympic, world and European championships medallist swimmer Charlotte Henshaw has also said she is aiming to compete in paracanoeing for Tokyo 2020.
Nottingham’s Emma Wiggs won gold in the KL2 class event at Rio 2016 and David is hoping to emulate her achievement of a gold medal.
He said: “I’d been doing wheelchair tennis for 20-odd years now so it’s a big step for me in my life but it was time for a change.
“I didn’t want to finish – I’m still getting my coaching qualifications for it and want to bring that inspiration to youngsters.
“I’ve still got it in me, I’ve still got another cycle for hopefully Tokyo and I still want to get a Paralympic medal.”
David trains at the Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre in Nottingham.
For more from David, watch the June 7 episode of Sports Week on our catch up service, where the entire series is also available on demand.
