This page is to help follow the updated news, sporting events and activities for 2012 Paralympic year.
London Titans WBC
It gives me great pleasure to announce that I have resumed Coaching with the newly formed London Titans Wheelchair Basketball Club and have begun the season in winning form check the website for details of training and games and come to see some high quality Wheelchair Basketball www.londontitans.org
London 2012
The Olympics and Paralympics certainly did not dissapoint this year with sterling performances from all of our GB athletes. I had the pleasure of providing commentary for Channel 4 and was very busy over the entire Paralympic period. It has been a delight to see so many new faces at my Coaching sessions for the London Titans Wheelchair Basketball Club and it is certainly proof of the impact the Paralympics has had.
Final Showdown
Retuning from the final UK international in stoke mandeville before the 2012 Paralympic Games I was delighted with the 8th place I won after returning from surgery to my dominant arm just two weeks ago. This final standing was achieved after a tense and nail biting shoot off that I eventually won to make the final in 8th place where I finally ended my run.
The tournament payed hoast to a number of high level international athletes that competed in this environment with great spirit and intent to entertain an exuberant home crowd.
Paralympic Punditry!
It was a great week end for sport as Manchester hosted the enormously popular Paralympic World Cup in May. Ann was delighted to Provide the Live punditry for Channel 4 the official Paralympic broadcaster to see this just go to the Channel 4 website www.channel4/paralympics
Not quite 6
Sadly selection for the London Paralympics proved to be out of reach for Ann this year. Having shot so close to the World record recently it was a difficult seperation to cope with however there is always time and future games to work towards.
However this does not spell the end of Ann's involvment in this years Paralympic Games watch this space!
Major Surgery looms in Paralympic year................
After much deliberation the decision was finally made that I needed surgical intervention to stop my nerve damage from getting any worse in my right arm affecting the muscles inside my hand, on the 10th February I will undergo decompression of the Ulnar nerve.
I am hopeful that my rehabilitation will go well after the surgery and I will be able to compete at the British Air gun Championships at the end of February, this being the most important competition in this Paralympic year for selection and the entire GB squad.
Follow Ann's recovery Blog at the "Invincible Spirit" paralympicstories.bolgspot.com
Exciting new Coaching challenges.
I am delighted to announce that I am to undertake the personal Coaching of the Elite athlete Sarah Grady http://www.sarah-grady.com an experienced and skilled athlete that has recently been called up to represent Great Britain Women's Wheelchair Basketball again after having a beautiful baby boy (an achievement in itself!).
Sarah is a busy working Mum who has committed a huge part of her life to GB again and as her blog explains support is always needed check out her journey on the site above. An inspirational young Mum who is truly representive of the GB spirit.
Return of Coach Wild
I very happily returned to Coaching today after a long sabbatical after inordinately difficult times. I am delighted to announce that I am back Coaching the Capital City team on a Technical level and will provide sessions for all at the ASPIRE National Training Centre when possible I will have more exciting news very soon.
Selection for Great Britain Shooting International in Stoke Mandeville (the birthplace of the Paralympics)
I am delighted to announce that I have been selected for the International Shooting event on the 29th to the 31st of September in stoke mandeville, this event marks my return to Great Britain standard in sport and I am truly delighted to have made it onto such a competitive and hard working team. This being after facing such considerable adversity in the early part of this year having undergone both brain and spinal surgery.
Results will be posted on the new competition results page added to this website and as competitions follow I will provide links to enable you to view live feeds from events.
http://www..org.uk/WPower/index.cfm/news/paralympic-shooters-in-action-at-stoke-mandeville/
After a difficult 2010/2011 Ann is back on the road to recovery!
I was diagnosed in late 2010 with a serious brain malformation that was causing me a number of painful and uncomfortable symptoms. After a long period of time spent waiting for diagnostics to be completed I underwent major brain and spinal surgery in January 2011 this was successfully undertaken by a talented Neurosurgeon and his team from the Royal National Orthopaedic hospital in Stanmore who I am very grateful to.
I am currently rehabilitating at home and hope that this will not slow my plans and progress for the future too much.
As everyone is aware since retiring from elite sport I have been investigating many other sports and activities and even though I have come up against some health barriers I hope that this will not stop me from progressing to new ventures very soon.
I will keep you updated, but for the near future I am concentrating on getting back to full health and fitness. For now I am living by the following philosophy.
"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."
-Louisa May Alcott
Ann Wild awarded an OBE in the Queen's birthday honours list
"I am truly delighted to be honoured in this way, it took a month for it to sink in and I had to read the papers to actually believe it was true. It means so much to me and I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me over my career."
"I am really looking forward to seeing the Queen again at the investiture and i'm sure it will be a wonderful day."
Ann Wild OBE
"One of the most successful disabled athletes has been given an OBE in the birthday honours list"
James Ranger Guardian-Series
"Paralympic wheelchair basketball player, who has coached some of britain's rising stars has spoken of her "disbelief" at being honoured with an OBE"
Letter from Wheelpower
Ann Wild OBE
We are delighted that your contribution to wheelchair basketball, disability and Paralympic sport over many years has been recognised in this way and follows on from the WheelPower British Wheelchair Sports Award for Lifetime Achievement which we were thrilled to present to you in November.
Yours sincerely Kevan Kevan Baker Martin McElhatton
Chairman Chief Executive
To see more and the full stories go to:-
ESPN
Brunel University announce that I am to be awarded with the Outstanding achievement Award 2009
Once again I had the honour of returning to my former University to receive the Outstanding Achievement award for competing in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. I was in the presence of such greats as Dame Kelly Holmes who was receiving her Doctorate and Kelly Southerton receiving her Masters for Sporting achievement.
A broad line up of Olympic and Paralympic athletes that studied at Brunel were at this event including Bronze medallist in the Mixed Coxed fours from Beijing Vikki Hansford and a host of our Olympic athletes Brunel once again created a wonderful evening and will be a fantastic base for our 2012 preparations.
POST BEIJING ANN WILD RETIREMENT ANNOUNCMENT
As many of you are aware I suffered a traumatic stress injury some time before Beijing. I struggled with this injury and the pressures of performance all the way through the lead up preparation before the event itself in Beijing. I still performed to the best of my ability even with this almost unbearable pressure at times and felt that as ever in the face of adversity I pulled through for my country. I officially retired from international wheelchair basketball in April this year. It was a difficult but measured decision and I hope to keep entertaining everyone in the same manner just in a different sport. I am now however under no illusion that there are many different and new challenges that are knocking on my door, there are many events and new activities on the horizon, watch this space!
My retirement letter is as follows - 10/04/09
To my dear friends, colleagues and associates,
This is just a quick e-mail to let you know that as of yesterday I have officially retired from international GB Basketball. This is not a decision that I have taken lightly, as you are aware basketball is and has always been a huge part of my life.
I would offer my thanks to everyone who has made this such an incredible, outstanding and enriching experience for me. I feel that I have shown the country that I am so proud of a good service. I will forever love the game and would like to be remembered for the good that I endeavoured to bring to it.
I can say with hand on heart, that I leave you now with a clear conscience and have given as much as I have taken from the sport, those of you still on your respective journeys in every field I wish the greatest of success.
Those that have known me from the tender age of ten, will appreciate that I have been completely committed to women's and men's sport and development over the years and the changes that I fought for are finally coming into play. I will continue to be there for the development of young talent in whatever way I can.
My best to you all
Ann Wild Bsc Hons MUniv
Head Coach Force WBC