Bly Twomey's blog

October 2024

I've been cared for at Evelina London almost my whole life.

I am one of a twin. We were born at 31 weeks and I was diagnosed with right unilateral cerebral palsy. I've been getting support from Evelina London's physical disability and movement service since I was 4 years old. They've been helping me improve how I move.

When I was 6 I started seeing the orthopaedics team to have surgery on my foot. After I had the surgery I was scared of taking the cast off because I was worried it would hurt. The team were really supportive and found a way to take it off without hurting me.

While I was staying in Evelina London Children's Hospital to recover from the surgery I visited the hospital school and loved it. They had some musicians playing the violin for us, and I got to have a go playing the violin too. While they were playing there was thunder and lightning outside and it was so dramatic. The school really cheered me up while I was recovering.

I come back to Evelina London every year for a check up and to chat to the physiotherapists and occupational therapists in the movement service.

I've always enjoyed playing sports like swimming and tennis. I first discovered table tennis when I was 11 years old. I went to a sports summer camp near where I live in Brighton and they encouraged me to play. I really enjoyed it and I was invited to join Brighton table tennis club. The rest is history.

I really appreciated how the club was so inclusive about my disability and everyone treated me normally. I also loved the socialising. I started competing internationally and do loads of world tournaments every year.

I first started thinking about competing in the Paralympics thanks to Will Bayley, a Paralympic table tennis player for Great Britain, ranked world number 1. He saw me when I was in Tokyo and I hit a ball past him, so he saw potential in me and put me forward for the GB squad. Our aim was that I would compete in the 2028 Paralympics, but Will always believed in me and encouraged me to compete even earlier, in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

Competing in the Paralympics was an incredible and unique experience. I know I won't experience anything like it again. There were so many kids there, and 150 of my friends in the Brighton table tennis club came to support me, which was amazing. I won 2 bronze medals, 1 for singles and 1 with my doubles partner. The feeling of holding the medals was an unforgettable moment, and to do it at 14 is just incredible. I'm so proud of myself.

Competing internationally also put my condition into perspective because I saw so many disabled people doing amazing things. Lots of other young people have also told me how much they look up to me, which feels amazing. I'm so proud to inspire young athletes to do what they love.

I'm looking ahead to the 2028 Paralympics now and I'm going for gold! At the Paris paralympics I competed in the mixed doubles and got to the quarter finals but at the 2028 Paralympics I hope they will include a lower classification so I can compete with Will.

Table tennis has helped me become a lot more confident, I used to dislike socialising but now I’m happy to ask for help and talk to other people. I also feel much better about my disability, because it's helped me see that so many people in the world accept me for who I am.

I used to want to be like everyone else but now I wouldn't change anything about myself.

I've been looked after by so many people at Evelina London over the years, and I want to say thank you to every one for everything they've done for me. I wouldn't be playing table tennis without them.

To other disabled people thinking about starting a sport, I'd say: don't let anything get in your way. Just give it a go and keep going – you can do anything you put your mind to.