Andy Barrow

Andy Barrow is an international speaker and mentor [1] and a retired Great Britain wheelchair rugby player.[2]

Andy Barrow
Personal information
Full nameAndrew John Barrow
NationalityBritish
Born (1979-08-20) 20 August 1979
New Eltham, London, England
Websitewww.andybarrow.co.uk
Sport
SportWheelchair Rugby
TeamUnited Kingdom Great Britain
RetiredOctober 2012
Achievements and titles
World finals5th place, Sweden 2002, 4th place New Zealand 2006 (Captain), 5th place, Canada 2010
Regional finalsEuropean Gold, Belgium 2003, European Gold, Denmark 2005 (Captain), European Gold, Finland 2007 (Captain), 4th place, Denmark 2009 (Captain), European Silver, Switzerland 2011 IWRF European Championship
Paralympic finals4th 2004,

4th (Captain) 2008,

5th 2012
Updated on 20 January 2013.

Barrow's wheelchair rugby career encompassed three Paralympic Games, three World Championships, and five European Championships, where his team won three consecutive gold medals. He was captain of the British team from 2005 to 2010 and played for San Diego in the US league.

In 1997, Barrow was playing rugby for his local club when he suffered a spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic. He was aged just 17.[3]

One year later, in 1998, Barrow started his wheelchair rugby career, joining London Wheelchair Rugby Club.

After retiring from elite sport, Andy became a motivational speaker and mentor. He helped introduce the Athlete Inspiration Programme to schools in his home town of Greenwich[4] to help keep the momentum following the success of London 2012 and encourage children to stay physically active.

He has developed a project with Chaucer Insurance to increase confidence and opportunities for children with learning difficulties in London and Kent.[5]

Andy has also expanded his work internationally. In March 2017 he visited Japan to spread the word about disability sport and wheelchair rugby ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 at a British Camber of Commerce event.[6]

Andy also visits international schools delivering workshops on commitment, determination, teamwork, overcoming adversity and nutrition.[7][8][9][10]

He has helped the newly formed Singapore wheelchair rugby team and gave a demonstration of the game in Hong Kong alongside his ambassadorial role at the Hong Kong 7s tournament.[11] [12]

Andy is also a Director for volunteer charity Imago.[13]

References
  1. "Andy Barrow - Inspirational Speakers".
  2. "Andy Barrow - London 2012". Archived from the original on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  3. "Paralympian paralysed in rugby match urges officials not outlaw the tackle".
  4. "Athlete Inspiration Programme".
  5. "Chaucer Foundation Andy Barrow project=" (PDF).
  6. "The Paralympics: Transforming Perceptions and Inspiring Excellence=".
  7. "Andy Barrow at Shrewsbury International School=".
  8. "Andy Barrow at Dover Court International School=".
  9. "Andy Barrow at Tanglin Trust International School=".
  10. "Andy Barrow at British School in Tokyo=". Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  11. "Andy Barrow promotes exciting wheelchair rugby movement in Hong Kong!=". Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  12. "Hong Kong can be part of a 'massively exciting moment' in wheelchair rugby, says three-time Paralympian Andy Barrow=". 4 April 2017.
  13. "IMAGO Directors".


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