Disabled young people in Wales were empowered at a recent sport-related event.

The 2024 Disabled Young Leaders in Sport Inspiring Connections Event served as a platform for young people to be introduced to various organisations, soak up motivational speeches, and the morale booster that despite life’s curveballs, sports can open doors to numerous opportunities.

The event, a collaboration with the Welsh Rugby Union, offered an inclusive environment to disabled young sportspersons, allowing them to create connections, inspire, and get inspired.

For the second year running, the event was an informal networking lunch with live podcast recordings of Disability Sport Wales, and a platform to appreciate young leaders and their supporting organisations.

Set in the All Nations Centre in Cardiff, the event kicked off with James Ledger, the leading T11 Paralympic sprinter for Wales and Great Britain.

Ledger recorded three inspiring Disability Sport Wales podcasts before a live audience.

The first to take the stage was Will Bishop, a former youth footballer for Bridgton and Liverpool FC.

Now a Cardiff Met student and long jumper who won bronze at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, Bishop espoused the virtue of preparedness having finished fifth in the 100 metres sprint—an event, he admitted, he never planned to participate in.

Following Bishop was Bronnie Griffiths, project officer at Activity Alliance.

Unlike Bishop, Griffiths came from a leadership and organisational background.

She candidly confessed that sports was never her thing until she volunteered for insport Series events.

Now, she is a degree holder from the University of South Wales and has served as a valuable contributor to its emerging disability sports programme.

Nathan Stephens, DSW’s head of performance development, guested on the last DSW Podcast.

Despite losing his legs in a childhood accident, Stephens transformed adversity into triumph.

Not only is he a record-breaking javelin thrower who competed at the Beijing Paralympics, but he also holds a degree from Cardiff Met University and has been with DSW since 2015.

Stephens said: "Para sport has taught me how to overcome adversity, to be able to roll with the punches, to be organised, have good communication skills and to perform under pressure.

"Those lessons learned in sport have transferred very well over to home and work life and are helping me in my role as DSW head of performance development."

He further advised passion-focused dedication, saying: "If you have a passion for something and enjoy it, stick at it."

On his role, he added: "I’ll continue to do it day in day out because I love working with athletes and helping them."

Other speakers at the event included Darren Carew, WRU national inclusion manager, Tomas Martin, DSW boccia co-ordinator, and Morgan Jones, DSW performance pathway senior officer.

Mr Carew said: "The Welsh Rugby Union is incredibly proud to support Disability Sport Wales, not only with this Young Leaders in Sport event, but in general because we've got such a long-term relationship.

"To be able to bring our own community coaches with disabilities down to this youth connections event means a great deal."

The podcast recordings from the event can be accessed on YouTube, Spotify, Apple podcasts and pod bean.