Two-time Paralympian and World Silver Medallist Robyn Love has announced her retirement from international duty in wheelchair basketball.
GB Women’s Robyn Love has called time on her extensive international career, having dedicated a decade of her life to the highest level of the sport.
A natural leader on the court, Robyn has been a stalwart of the sport for ten years having first played in 2013. An instant connection with the sport ensued – within one year of playing, Robyn was on the Performance radar and soon earned her first international call up in 2015 to assist the GB Women’s senior team to Silver in the Osaka Cup, Japan.
Closely following her first appearance in the European Championships in 2016 and securing qualification, Robyn made her Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 and assisted the team to a historic fourth place finish. With GB Women, Robyn would go on to claim Silver at the 2018 World Championships, Silver at the 2019 European Championships, 7th Place at Tokyo 2020. Robyn captained the side to Silver at the 2021 European Championships, joint-highest ever achievement for the GB Women in a European Championships.
No stranger to marking milestones in the sport, Robyn made history at Birmingham 2022 in the first ever appearance of wheelchair basketball in a Commonwealth Games, proudly leading Team Scotland – a dream come true to represent her hometown of Ayr. In 2022, Robyn captained Loughborough Lightning as they won the first ever BWB Women’s Premier League title.
Most recently, a milestone was marked in her personal life as Robyn and partner and GB Women’s athlete Laurie Williams welcomed baby Alba into the world.
Robyn commented on her retirement from the international stage of wheelchair basketball:
“Wheelchair basketball for me is more than the game, it’s the people, the experience, the joy that it has brought me over the years and will continue to bring me.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity that I have had to represent Great Britain, something that I never thought possible. Growing up with a disability, I never knew I could play sport at the highest level. When I saw it during the London 2012 Paralympics, I knew that that was what I was meant to do. Four years later, I was doing it.
“Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way and I’m so grateful for the opportunity that this sport has given me. We’ve created a legacy over the past ten years and one that I know the squad are going to build on going forward. Wheelchair basketball for women has grown so much, not only in this country but around the world, and I’m excited to see the progress of the women’s game, something that I hope I’ll still have a part in through the next kind of journey in my life.”
Diccon Edwards, Performance Director at British Wheelchair Basketball, commented:
“It has been evident ever since I started in the role the significant impact Robyn has had in the sport. Her passion and commitment to the GB team have always stood out and she has always led by example in her drive for success for the GB team.
“Whilst I know this has been a hard decision for her, she can be extremely proud of everything she has achieved and am confident she will have success in whatever she chooses to do next. She has been the inspiration for so many players, and I know she will continue to support and promote the game. Though she is retiring from GB, I am keen that she continues to develop as a coach and share her knowledge and experience to the next generation of players and I look forward to supporting her in the future.”
Robyn is set to continue playing domestically, building on success at Loughborough Lightning, alongside developing her skills in coaching. All at BWB wish all the best to Robyn for the next chapter, and a huge congratulations for her GB career.
