Will Bayley

William John Bayley, born on 17 January 1988 in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is a British professional Paralympic table tennis player who has achieved significant international success. Diagnosed with arthrogryposis at birth, which affects all four limbs, and cancer at age seven, Bayley recovered by playing table tennis after his grandmother gifted him a table. He began his competitive career at 12, joining the Byng Hall Table Tennis Club in Tunbridge Wells.

Bayley represented Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics but struggled in singles while reaching the quarterfinals in the team event. From 2010 onwards, he secured multiple gold medals, including victories in European Championships and World events. In 2011, he won gold in singles at the European Championships and silver in the men's Team event. He was voted European Player of the Year in 2012 and became world number one.

Bayley claimed his first Paralympic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Games after defeating Brazil's Israel Pereira Stroh, despite receiving a yellow card for celebrating by jumping on the table. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, he won silver in singles and team events.

In 2017, Bayley was awarded an MBE for his contributions to table tennis. Outside of sports, he participated in the seventeenth series of Strictly Come Dancing in September 2019, partnering with professional dancer Janette Manrara. Their contemporary dance, dedicated to Great Ormond Street Hospital, moved audiences but Bayley had to withdraw due to a knee injury sustained during rehearsals.