Paralympics hope after misfortune

Jonathan Gribbin is now happy with his wife Joanna and daughter Ella Louise

A man who overcame a series of setbacks and a personal tragedy is hoping for medal glory at the Beijing Paralympics.

Jonathan Gribbin, 32, of Monmouthshire, was badly attacked in 2002 and was then told he had a progressive eye disorder which eventually left him blind.

He also had multiple organ failure and had to learn to walk again after contracting pneumonia, became homeless and also lost a friend in an accident.

He now hopes to celebrate with the British blind football team.

He will fly to China on Saturday - and is hoping the games will provide his moment to triumph over adversity.

"I'm really excited," said Mr Gribbin, from Abergavenny.

"I qualified last September but it hasn't really hit me until now.

I felt very sorry for myself and tried to work for the next couple of years, but it was getting harder Jonathan Gribbin, on being told he would go blind

"With the start of the Olympics, you realise just how big and important it all is and how lucky you are because not many get to go out and represent their country, it's a real honour and an amazing experience. I want to go out there and score goals."

Mr Gribbin's life began its downward spiral in 2002 after he was badly assaulted.

After recovering, he had an eye test after applying for a motorbike licence.

He was referred to hospital and after checking his eyes, they found that Jonathan had a progressive eye disorder and told him he would go blind.

'Learn to walk'

"I felt very sorry for myself and tried to work for the next couple of years, but it was getting harder," he said.

"I bumbled through and started teaching again. It was then I met my future wife Joanna through coaching netball."

But on the couple's first holiday to Cyprus in 2004, Mr Gribbin contracted pneumonia and had multiple organ failure. He was given just 12 hours to live.

He said: "I did recover after intensive dialysis treatment and I convalesced for seven months, having to learn to walk again.

"Eventually I went back to work but I struggled to gain constant employment. In the end I felt this was not practical for me in my position due to the limitations of my eye condition."

Mr Gribbin was always a gym enthusiast and in 2005 took part in a trial for disability cycling on a tandem and performed so well that he was asked to train with the British team.

In the 2005 European Open Championships, he and tandem partner Zak Carr took part in the 4km pursuit and 25km time trial and came 4th and 5th in the world.

Podium

Tragically Mr Carr died after being hit by a car, when the driver fell asleep, and Mr Gribbin never returned to cycling.

Instead, he went on to join the UK partially-sighted soccer league and then he was spotted by a scout.

He played for the England partially-sighted league internationally until his sight deteriorated even further and he joined the Great British Blind Soccer Team.

During this time, Mr Gribbin and wife Joanna became parents to one-year-old Ella Louise who he describes as the "love of his life".

But due to a lack of work due to his sight problems, the family became homeless and moved in with Mr Gribbin's parents.

Now he hopes for a medal at the Paralympics.

Mr Gribbin, who now works for training and employment provider A4e Wales in Newport, added: "Personally I think we can get on the podium. I think we're definitely going to get to bronze. "