From Blindness to the Paralympics: Help Me Fight for Gold in

Help Me Represent Great Britain at the Paralympics—This Time in Judo

My name is Dan English, and I’m a blind athlete from Sunderland with an unshakable passion for sport. I’ve proudly represented England and Great Britain in blind football, competed in the London 2012 Paralympics, and broken world records in swimming. Now, I’m on a brand-new journey—to fight for Paralympic gold in judo at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

But to make this dream a reality, I need your help.

My Journey So Far

At age seven, I lost the sight in my left eye. By nine, I was completely blind. But where I lost vision, I gained purpose.

Sport gave me belonging, identity, and the will to push forward.

    •    In swimming, I broke world, British, and European records.

    •    In football, I discovered my true calling—representing my country at World Cups, European Championships, and the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

    •    Over a decade, I earned 145 international caps and scored 50 goals for my country.

After retiring from football in 2023, I struggled with a deep sense of isolation. I missed the camaraderie, the challenge, the purpose. Then I discovered judo—and everything changed.

Why Judo? Why Now?

In October 2023, I stepped onto the mat for the first time. Since then, I’ve:

    •    Competed in 5 local, 4 national, and 2 international tournaments

    •    Earned a world ranking of #12

    •    Finished 5th at a major world-ranking event in Egypt

I’m now within touching distance of breaking into Team GB’s national judo squad. The next 12 months are critical. With the right support, I can solidify my position and build a foundation for LA 2028.

Why I’m Asking for Help

To continue competing at this level, I need to raise £12,000 to cover:

    •    International and domestic travel to ranking events

    •    Coaching and training camps

    •    Accommodation and entry fees

    •    Equipment and nutrition support

Judo is a self-funded sport at this stage of the journey, and your support could truly change the game for me.

Be Part of Something Bigger

This journey is about more than medals. It’s about showing what’s possible when the world doesn’t see your potential—but you pursue it anyway.

Together, we can:

    •    Prove that disability doesn’t define limits

    •    Inspire young athletes facing adversity

    •    Represent Great Britain with pride on the world stage

Let’s make history—together.

Thank you for believing in this dream, and in what we can achieve when we fight side by side.

Follow my Journey live on Instagram, where I will be posting weekly training and competition content.

@danenglishgb5

Warm regards,

Dan English

Blind Athlete | Paralympian | GB Judoka in Training