Liverpool Paralympian going for gold in Paris after finding new inspiration

Liverpool Paralympian Dan Powell is aiming for gold at the Paris games this summer.

Powell, from Halewood, competes in Judo. He is currently ranked within the top three in the world. Despite his success and multiple podium finishes in European and World Championships, it is Paralympic medals that have evaded him.

The judoka competed at the London 2012 Paralympics at the tender age of 21. Looking back, he recalls memories of a home tournament that will last a lifetime.

"I competed in London 2012 at 21 years old. I fought on day two of the event, and after that, I had two weeks of being in party mode around the Olympic Village and London. It was amazing," he said.

Powell has taken breaks from the sport and did so after the Rio de Janeiro games in 2016, citing the need for change. After the birth of his son, the Liverpudlian felt a new lease of life and the arrival added to his motivation for success.

He said: "The reason I got back into the groove after Rio (de Janeiro) was the fact that I wanted to feel that again, compete at the highest level.

"I now have a little boy and it's absolutely shifted the reason why I do sport. When I either bring home a medal, I get to put a smile on my lad's face."

After all, competition is in his blood. Dan's father, Terry, competed at the Olympics securing two bronze medals during his career. Dan credits his father with inspiring him to take up the sport at the age of 10.

"My Dad, he flew all around the world competing and winning medals. For me, when I was a kid you'd see your Dad leaving in his red, white and blue tracksuit. That was a bit like his superhero uniform. Me and my brother used to look up to him," he said.

Dan's brother, Marc Powell also competed at the London 2012 games but