Owain Terrell Has The Talent And Drive To Reach The Top . . . All He Needs Now Is A New Chair

You should never meet your heroes, so the saying goes.

Welsh wheelchair athlete Owain Terrell would strongly disagree.

In 2012, Terrell, who was born with spina bifida, was watching on TV as wheelchair racing legend David Weir claimed one of his four gold medals at the London Paralympics.

As the cameras focussed on “The Weirwolf” after he had crossed the line in triumph at a packed Olympic Stadium, the then primary school pupil made an announcement to his family.

“That's what I want to do. I want to do wheelchair racing!”

Such was the impact of seeing Weir’s achievements on Terrell, when his primary school held a dress as your hero day shortly after the Paralympics, there was only one choice.

Dad Richard, recalls: “There were kids going in dressed as Superman and Spider Man. 

“Owain went in his wheelchair. Shirt open, gold medals on his chest and wearing a werewolf mask, and he's going as David Weir – The Weirwolf!”

Almost 13-years-later, Terrell is indeed a wheelchair racer, competing across a wide range of distances on the road and the track – just like Weir, who won Paralympic gold from 800m right up to the marathon.

Earlier this year, the under-20 age group athlete finally met his hero Weir, who is a close friend of Terrel’s coach, Richie Powell, himself a wheelchair Paralympian and Welsh sporting legend.

Owain Terrell. Pic: Owen Morgan

The meeting served to inspire the Newport Harrier even further – galvanising his ambition to emulate Weir by competing at the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028.

Terrell told Dragon Sport: “A few weeks ago, my dream came true because I actually finally managed to meet David Weir at Stoke Mandeville. He’s mates with my coach Richie Powell and he asked me ‘are you Richie’s lad’? 

“So I was able to talk to him. Getting to meet my idol face to face for the first time after all these years – it was amazing to see him and he was a really nice bloke.

“Ever since 2012 I always wanted to meet him, because he was the one that inspired me to do wheelchair racing in the first place. Because of him, that's why I’m where I am today. He told me to keep it up and to keep going.”

Terrell was speaking after his latest victory at the Welsh Athletics Junior Championships, where he won over 100m in 18.50.
So far this year, the youngster has also won over 5k in races in Bath and Westbury and at the AJ Bell Great Bristol 10K and the ABP Newport 10K.

Earlier this month, he finished third on his debut over 13.1 miles at the Swansea Half Marathon.

While coach Powell, who competed for Great Britain at the 1992 Paralympics and Wales at the Commonwealth Games in 1994, believes the athlete’s future could lie over the longer distances, the youngster himself prefers the sprints.

“I prefer the 100 meters - nice, fast sprints. My coach, Richie said I can do long distances, but personally, I prefer the 100 meter sprints. They're my favourite,” said the Newport Harrier.

“This year, I’d like to bring my 100m time down to 17, or 16 seconds as best I can. My coach also wants me to do the Cardiff Half Marathon. I’m doing Cardiff and Swansea 10k as well later this year, and all the other races in Coventry and Stoke Mandeville.”

Richie Powell wins the Swansea Half Marathon. Pic: Owen Morgan

However, if Terrell is going to achieve his dreams, it will not depend on his natural talent and hard work alone.

The T54 category athlete currently competes in a second-hand racing chair.

Dad Richard said: “For his 17th birthday, he didn’t get a car like most teenagers, he got a second hand racing chair and he’s just gone from there. But it is his aim is to get to the Paralympics in Los Angeles.”

If the Welsh Athletics National Development Programme athlete  is to achieve his American Dream, he will need a new purpose built racing chair which would cost thousands of pounds.

Terrell and his family are looking for backers to help him fund a new chair, which would fit his personal specifications.

Terrell said: “We’re hoping at some point to get a new racing chair, but at the moment it’s just the cost. They cost a lot of money. But it would make me faster and help me achieve my dream.

“Getting to LA would be a dream come true. I want to compete at the next Paralympics and hopefully become the next David Weir.”

As well as the backing he receives from Newport Harriers, who helped him start is athletics journey, coach Powell and Welsh Athletics, Terrell’s family are doing all they can to support his ambition on and off the roads and tracks. 

One of his three brothers, Rhodri, helps raise his sibling’s profile with photographs and videos on social media.

Competing involves a lot of travel around the UK, especially with a number of track meets being held across the border at Stoke Mandeville, which has a centre for wheelchair sport.

Speaking after the Welsh Junior Championships race, which was held on Father’s Day, Terrell paid tribute to the support he receives in allowing him to compete, particularly from his dad.

“My dad takes me to races and it’s a three-and-a-half hour trip from where we live to up to Stoke Mandeville. It was nice to win here on Father’s Day to say thank you for sacrificing time and money to take me to compete,” said Terrell.