Gemma Collis Biography

"My name is Gemma Collis and I am a 19 year old Wheelchair Basketball Player and Wheelchair Fencer from Buckinghamshire.

"Growing up I took part in almost all sports. I figure skated at National Level between the age of 8 and 11, played County level Hockey between 13 and 15, was District 100m Champion between the ages of 12 and 15 and was double County Champion in Triple Jump aged 15. My dream had always been to go to the Olympics. I had been in training for London 2012 with the hope of representing Britain in the Triple Jump there.

"Then, just over three and a half years ago, in July 2008, I got a condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. RSD is a progressive nervous system disease that affects the functioning of the nerves in my right leg, causing altered sensation and extreme pain. Ever since then, I've been on crutches or used a wheelchair.

"I thought I'd never be able to take part in sport again so began coaching, officiating and volunteering at sports events. It was whilst doing this that I discovered disability sports.

Whilst volunteering at the World Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Birmingham in 2010, I discovered that my condition qualified me to play wheelchair basketball as a minimally disabled player so that November I began playing Wheelchair Basketball. Since then I've played for Aces, Percy Hedley Eagles and Wales.

"My greatest achievement to date in Wheelchair Basketball has been being selected to represent Wales u25s at the 2011 Celtic Cup in Stirling, Scotland after having been playing for 9 months.

"However, I'm no longer just a Wheelchair Basketball player!

"Shortly after starting my Law degree at Durham University in October of last year, whilst training for basketball I was approached by Professor Laszlo Jakab, the GB Wheelchair Fencing Head Coach, who asked me if I'd like to try Wheelchair Fencing. I tried it and really enjoyed it.

"I've been fencing since the end of October and my love for the sport is continually increasing. My preferred weapon is Epee, but I also fence Foil.

"In January, I took part in a week long international fencing camp at Stoke Mandeville with the French squad and represented Great Britain for the first time at the Malchow Wheelchair Fencing World Cup at the end of January.

"I recently attended an international fencing camp in Frejus, France with fencers from several different nations. Whilst there I competed in the 8th Challenge International des Joinvillais, which is an annual international wheelchair fencing competition. I came 2nd in the Women's Category A Epee, having been knocked out of the Mixed Epee in the Last 16 round of Direct Elimination. I was also selected to represent Great Britain again at the Lonato Wheelchair Fencing World Cup this May."