Thursday, March 18, 2010

Double amputee wins BBC's "Dancing on Wheels" in UK

From The Gazette in the UK. The cast of the show is pictured.

A man who lost his legs in a train accident has landed a place in a dance world championship after winning a reality TV show.
Holistic carer James O'Shea, from Berkhamsted, wowed judges on BBC3's Dancing on Wheels and took first place with his celebrity dance partner, Caroline Flack.

Their prize is to represent the UK at the most prestigious wheelchair dance sport competition in the world - the European Championships in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The 31-year-old, who has used a wheelchair since a New Year's Eve train accident when he was 19, said: "I went from running around doing high jump and 1500m races, basketball, football and hockey, to being in a wheelchair.

"It was a complete lifestyle change, of course, but it took me in a different direction. It took me into the artistic world and into care work.

"Every crisis and every problem is an opportunity."

Dancing on Wheels paired celebrities with wheelchair users to master the art of wheelchair dance.

The couples were led by Strictly Come Dancing's Brian Fortuna and performed each week for an expert judging panel.