James Roberts MCIAT, Paralympics GB gold medallist, honoured

Paralympic gold medallist James Roberts MBE is to be recognised with an Honorary Doctorate for his sporting excellence.

James, a Chartered Architectural Technologist, competed as part of the Paralympics GB Wheelchair Rugby Team, which won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games and is to be presented with the honour from Coventry University during a ceremony on Tuesday 16 July.

James, who was awarded an MBE in 2022 for Services to Wheelchair Rugby, said: “I’m absolutely shocked to be given an Honorary Doctorate but it’s a huge honour and it means so much coming from Coventry University which I’ve got such a connection to. 

“I was determined to come back to Coventry when I’d recovered. I’ve always thought this was such a brilliant place, arriving from the Welsh borders it was such a change of pace coming here and everybody was so helpful and encouraging when I was ill and when I returned to study.” 

James’ life changed forever after his first year at university in 2007 when he returned home to work with the family business over the summer.

After contracting bacterial meningitis, James was forced to undergo a life-changing double amputation, spending around two-and-a-half years in hospital.

Determined to continue his studies when he recovered, James returned to Coventry University to complete his degree in Architectural Design Technology, earning first-class honours and outstanding student of the year from the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists.

A keen rugby player before his amputations, James never lost his passion for sport and when a nurse in hospital suggested he might have the potential to succeed in wheelchair rugby, he set his mind to competing.

Taking inspiration from Team GB at the 2012 Paralympic Games and supported by Coventry University’s Sports Scholarship Programme, he worked extremely hard to get into the Team GB wheelchair Rugby Development Squad.

Honing his game through competing in the US, James went on to be an integral part of the team, scoring an astounding 105 tries across Great Britain’s five matches at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

James said: “Wheelchair rugby is a completely different sport to rugby - obviously there is some crossover with developing spatial awareness but I had to work really, really hard to be able to compete at the level required at a Paralympics.

“I wasn’t a natural and you’re using totally different muscles. When we won the Gold for Paralympics GB it felt like a huge relief, there had been so much uncertainty because of Covid and I knew this would be my final Games, it just felt like the best possible way to bow out.

“I’m so happy to be given this award - it would be strange coming from any other university.”

Since graduating in 2013, alongside his sporting achievements, James has pursued a successful career in architecture and now works as a Senior Chartered Architectural Technologist.