Tyler Saunders

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Tyler Saunders is a British wheelchair basketball player, coach and personal trainer. [1] He was born without a right leg. [2]

Saunders was born 1982or1983. Living in Edgware, he had played able-bodied basketball in school, but then discovered a local wheelchair team. [3] He started playing wheelchair basketball seriously around 2006. [2] By 2010, he had been supported by the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes initiative, was part of the Team GB development squad, and hoped to play in the 2012 Summer Paralympics. [4] [5] Though he ultimately didn't qualify, [6] [7] he was one of the carriers of the Olympic torch during the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay in Ealing. He had been picked as a torchbearer by Lloyds TSB, due to his work in basketball and coaching his club's junior teams. [8] [9]

Saunders then played for a German club, and after returning to Britain he became a physical trainer. [5] He had expected to work with disabled people, but eventually found that his message of overcoming limitations appealed to a broader audience. He cooperated with a video production company owner and started to gain online attention. He had 25 000 followers on Instagram in early 2021, which had risen to 110 000 in 2025. [5] [10] [11]

He has competed on the gameshow Ninja Warrior UK , [5] Hyrox and Spartan Race. As of 2023, he works with the athletic apparel retailer Gymshark. [12]

Saunders is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. [9] As of 2023, he has two daughters. [12]

References

  1. Morelli, Olivia (17 May 2023). "10 people on what accessible travel means to them". Condé Nast Traveler . Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  2. 1 2 Masoliver, Daniel (12 November 2016). "My workout: Tyler Saunders, 33, wheelchair basketball player: 'Taking shots, I'm happy'". The Guardian . Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  3. "Hard-working heroes on the road to glory: Meet six of the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes who aim to make an impact at the Olympic and Paralympic Games". The Daily Telegraph . 18 July 2012. ProQuest   1026774090.
  4. "Basketball star on track for the Olympics". Times series . 18 May 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Wrench, Scarlett (3 February 2021). "Meet Tyler Saunders, the Disabled PT Who Wants to Show Everyone That Limitations Are Self-imposed". Men's Health . Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  6. "Tyler Saunders - Paralympic Athlete". Hope Channel. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  7. Heald, Claire (8 September 2011). "London 2012: Paralympic sports inspire capital". BBC News. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  8. "Torch route Day 67 – Kingston to Ealing". The Times . 24 July 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Olympic Flame Witness Climaxes in London". tedNEWS . 29 August 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  10. Millar, Jamie (16 December 2022). "Are Fitness Influencers a Force for Good?". Men's Health . Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  11. Saunders, Tyler. "iamtylersaunders". Instagram. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  12. 1 2 Wrench, Scarlett (9 March 2023). "Team Talk: How PT Tyler Saunders is Breaking Down Barriers for Adaptive Athletes". Men's Health . Retrieved 26 February 2025.