A Paralympic gold medallist from Powys has been presented with an honorary doctorate from his university.

Jim Roberts, from Welshpool, received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Coventry University on Tuesday, July 16, and said he was “honoured” to have been given the award.

He competed as part of the Paralympics GB Wheelchair Rugby Team, who won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, and was awarded an MBE in 2022 for Services to Wheelchair Rugby.

At the ceremony, he said: “It’s absolutely brilliant, it’s a real honour, it’s something that I’d never really thought or expected, but to have this from Coventry University, who welcomed me back after I got bacterial meningitis and had basically three years out of university, is brilliant."

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It was while on summer break after his first year at Coventry University, in 2007, that Jim’s life changed forever when he contracted bacterial meningitis and underwent double amputation, spending around two-and-a-half years in hospital.

It was while he was in hospital that Jim, a keen rugby player before contracting meningitis, that he was looking for ways to continue his passion for sport when a nurse suggested he look into wheelchair rugby.

Taking inspiration from Team GB at the 2012 Paralympic Games and supported by Coventry University’s Sports Scholarship Programme, he worked to get into the Team GB wheelchair rugby development squad and honed his game through competing in the US.

Eventually reaching the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, Jim went on to be an integral part of the team, scoring 105 tries across Great Britain’s five matches in Tokyo.

(Image: Coventry University)

As well as his sporting side, Jim also returned to his studies at Coventry, degree in Architectural Design Technology. He credited the university with supporting him while accepting his honorary doctorate.

He added: “The whole university looks really good, you can see a lot of investment has gone in and I’ve had a great welcome here today. Coventry University has given me that absolute grounding in architectural design technology, I was lucky enough to get a placement here that was supported by the university.

“I’ve gone on to become a chartered architectural technologist and now a passive house designer as well.”