Coughlan ready to take the hits for Ireland

Conor Coughlan is ready to take the big hits as he bids to help Ireland win a wheelchair basketball medal at the European Para Youth Games in Istanbul.

The 23-year-old relishes the physical challenge the sport provides - and how it helps knock down barriers to an understanding of what Para sport is all about.

“It’s a no-holes barred sport," said Coughlan. "I was playing out in Spain recently, I was going for a lay-up and a guy basically put me into the wall. I was thinking ‘Oh, here we go’.

"It’s unreal, but it’s all part of the game. You are going to get hit.

“Some people look at disability sport and are maybe thinking ‘Oh look, they’ve just popped in and that must be fun for them’. Then you see one of us getting ploughed into the wall and they’re thinking ‘What in the name of God is going on here’.

"It is just such a competitive sport and I’m a competitive person so it really suits me. There’s nothing better hitting people when you are playing sport, giving it a good belt."

Coughlan, studying for a Masters in Business Management at the University of Limerick, added: “For me, like for most people in sport, wheelchair basketball allows me to get out my aggression and anger.

“When I play wheelchair basketball I just switch off. Everything kind of goes into a flow state. I am only focused on what’s happening on the court.

"It’s a good release. It’s a good sanctuary, just going onto the court, getting a few shots off. In the game I can forget about all the troubles that are going on in my life.

“Wheelchair basketball is also a skilful game as you are not only controlling the ball, shooting and passing and all that, but you also have the whole wheelchair incorporated into it which is a bit crazy.

“It’s just an amazing game. There’s the technical and tactical side to it as well. It has kept me engaged for 10 or 11 years now so hopefully it will do so for another 10 or 11 years as well. That’s the plan."

Coughlan's plan for the future - once his studies are finished - includes going to play professionally in Europe having already been courted by several top teams.

It is all a long way from his childhood when he was diagnosed at five-years-old with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia -- a rare disorder which results in curvature of the spine.

He had to undergo an operation every six months to have the 'growing rods' in his back - which straightened the spine - lengthened.

It meant the youngster, who also suffered from scoliosis and inward-turning hips, had to give up playing Gaelic Football (GAA), a form of football/rugby played predominantly in Ireland.

He joked: “It was a rare condition, but don't ask me to spell it. I had my first operation when I was a seven. I was having operations on my spine every six months.

“It was hard as you are being pulled out of school then put into an operating theatre as such a young age. I had to wait six or eight weeks after every operation before I could do anything.

“You’d come back and build yourself up again only to have to have another operation. All the lads who I’d known you felt like they were progressing and I was being held back.

“It was difficult mentally. Building yourself up, then getting knocked back down again. It was just a repetitive cycle year over and over until I was in the sixth year of secondary school.

“It was hard going and if I didn’t have sport I don’t know what I’d be doing. It’s just great that wheelchair basketball is there for me and I’m just thankful for all forms of sport. I can appreciate every one and every other athlete as everybody has their own things going on.

“I’ve been getting a lot of offers to play professional in Europe. The main leagues are Spain, Italy, Germany and France.

“I’ve been getting offers from the top divisions which is unbelievable. I’m doing my Masters and then I’m planning on going pro the year after that. Fingers crossed.

“We had a tournament in Spain the other weekend and I got an offer from Barcelona for next year. There is so much opportunity.

"When my disability caught-up with me and I had to find something else. I took a year out, then got into wheelchair basketball. When I started off I couldn’t get the hang of it at all and wondered if I’d ever get up to the standard I needed. But I stuck with it.

“When you get to 16 and 17 you start to hear about the pro leagues and you think ‘Jeez, wouldn’t it be brilliant to eventually get there.’ I played against some top-class players at a young age and was aways aspiring to be like them.

“I never had it in my mind that I could be like them, but there was the dream that one day maybe I could. And it’s going to become a reality soon enough anyway."

Coughlan could be up against future team-mates from Europe when he lines-up in the six-team competition at the EPYG which also includes Italy, France, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands.

He added: “We’ve got a bronze from the Games before so hopefully we can pick up another one out In Istanbul. That’s the plan anyway.

“The EPYG is a great tournament and a great chance for people to get better and develop.

“There are a few powerhouses out there. Italy will be very strong. They’ve just had the worlds with their under 23 team and were very good.

“We have a very young squad, our youngest player Ethan Leonard is 15 which is mad.

“I think I’m a baby at 23 and when I hear him going on about 15, I think “Jeez, it’s mad'. He is the right baby of the team but he’s a brilliant player.

“I guess the younger players do look up to a few of older ones like myself and do want to follow our path into the senior team."

The record-breaking Istanbul 2025 European Para Youth Games officially open on 24 July and run until 27 July. They will feature a record 640 athletes with 1,200 competitors, coaches and team staff from 33 countries, also the biggest ever number, competing in Para archery, Para athletics, wheelchair basketball, boccia, goalball, Para judo, Para swimming, Para table tennis and Para taekwondo.

Participants will also get to experience the Discovery Programme where they will have the chance to take part in education and experiences in a broad range of topics, including activities designed to immerse the people of Istanbul in EPYG and to get to know Para sport.