Dumbarton Paralympian Martin Perry says his Games debut in Paris has made him hungry for more.
The 30-year-old table tennis player, who has a condition known as congenital limb loss and deformity which resulted in him being born with no hands and only one leg, became a fans’ favourite in France – despite almost knocking out the home favourites.
And he thanked the French crowd for lifting him after defeat to home heroes Clement Berthier and Esteban Herrault in the doubles competition – after an epic five set encounter.
Martin said: “After the match I got to mingle with the fans. And it was amazing the support I had before, during and after from the French fans. They were saying they wanted me to win because they thought the way I played was amazing.
“I was downtrodden and heartbroken by the result. But to have the general public who have never met me come up and say it was spectacular to watch, and say that they were gutted for me was really nice.”
During the game Martin and partner Will Bayley had the capacity crowd on their feet after winning a point, where Perry was forced to hurdle a barrier onto a neighbouring court after racing to reach the ball.
He laughed: “No one is expecting a guy with one leg to jump that high, or jump out the court!
“What I really loved was the reception I got from the French fans. I remember, and I use the term loosely, flying through the air and the whole arena going ‘ohh’.
“I was a little bit further away from the ball than I should’ve been. I thought ‘just do what you have to to get there’.
“With these incredibly manufactured prosthetic legs you are running and there’s no stopping you.
“When I managed to hit the shot, the only way I was going to continue going was forwards. I had a split second decision to crash through the barrier or hope and pray that I could get over it. And somehow I managed to get up and over it.
“I didn’t actually realise how high it was until I had to come back into the court. I tried to casually step over it, realised it was quite tall, and had to jump a little bit!
“I couldn’t work out how I’d got over it in the first place.
“It was pure adrenaline. I was doing everything that I could to get to the ball. And thankfully we won the point.
“That was a catalyst that turned the match around. Until that point we were trailing 2-0 and were tied in that set. That point gave us the boost and showed France that we were never going to give up.
“It put a fire in our bellies and we ran away with the next few points. It gave us so much momentum into the fourth and fifth sets.
“It was the highlight of my Games.”
And Martin says that the experience in Paris makes him more determined than ever to qualify for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles – and secure a medal.
He added: “I’ve got the privilege of playing the sport because I love it. But if I could inspire just one person to pick up a bat and play – even just for fun – then I’ve done my job.
“The experience has given me so much motivation to go for LA.
“I had three unforgettable weeks that I’m desperate to relive.
“My family were so proud and said I can forever call myself a Paralympian. But the competitor in me wants to win these matches and win a medal. It’s something I believe that I can do, so I better get my head down for the next couple of years to make sure I get there.”