Introduced to wheelchair basketball at a school taster session by GB’s Ade Orogbemi, Abdi Jama relished the fast-paced nature of the sport and has gone on to become one of the best 1.0 players in the world.

Starting out with local Liverpool team Vikings, Abdi has since travelled the world competing for clubs in Germany, Italy, Spain, and Australia – earning the prestigious double with Italian club Briantea in 2016 with his third Italian Championship title and second Coppa Italia gold medal.

A double U22 European Champion with the GB Junior Team, Abdi won bronze at his Paralympic debut in Beijing (2008). In 2010, Abdi then assisted the senior GB Team to 5th place at the World Championships before in 2011 he played a fundamental role in the team’s gold medal campaign at the 2011 European Championships.

Abdi’s second Paralympic Games in 2012 saw him named co-captain of ParalympicsGB’s Wheelchair Basketball Team with Matt Byrne, leading them to the bronze medal game where they narrowly lost to the USA.

Abdi continued to build upon his international success, captaining Great Britain to a consecutive European Championship gold medal (2013, Germany) and earning a place in the All Star Team. In 2015 Abdi secured a third consecutive European title and another Championship All Star Team, playing a crucial role in the team’s gold medal winning campaign and Rio 2016 qualification (where the team went on to win bronze).

The 2018, Abdi was part of the GB Men’s team who made history by claiming the nations first World Championship title, and the first to reach a semi-final game in 16 years. Making history on the Hamburg courts this August the GB men defeated the world’s leading wheelchair basketball nations; taking wins against Paralympic Silver medalists Spain and ultimately served the USA a final game defeat, their first in four years.

A devout Muslim, Abdi’s faith is integral in all that he does – both on and off the basketball court – and forms the foundation from which Abdi continues to build his achievements.

Abdi was born in Burao, Somalia and grew up in Liverpool.