Wheelchair racing prospect hails affect of David Weir forward of Commonwealth Games debut
Ellis Kottas is competing in the T53 category for the 1500m event, and will be in the mix for medals despite only starting the sport four years ago.
Ellis Kottas will compete for Team England at Glasgow 2026
Wheelchair racer Ellis Kottas credits her blossoming career to Paralympics legend David Weir ahead of her Commonwealth Games debut.
The 22-year-old from Wimbledon is competing in the T53 category for the 1500m event, and will be in the mix for medals despite only starting the sport four years ago.
The ex-competitive swimmer suffered a spinal cord injury at the age of 17, but her head was turned by the ‘Weir-wolf’s’ academy.
“I spent a lot of time in the hospital after the accident,” she said. “My body completely changed, so I can’t use my legs. It was a struggle.
“I knew I wanted to get back into sport but I didn’t want to go back to swimming. I wanted to do something new, and found wheelchair racing.
“Without David Weir, I would not have been able to get into wheelchair racing. He started the Weir-Archer Academy as his legacy for the 2012 Paralympic Games, which is where I found wheelchair racing. When I went to watch it, I just immediately knew that’s what I wanted to do.
Kottas credits the six-time Paralympic champion as her inspiration, but was also keen to highlight how other members of the academy and her peers had done so too.
She said: “The academy has helped me come to terms with my spinal cord injury less than a year after my injury. It’s been so helpful not just getting into the sport but also to be surrounded by people with different disabilities, especially those who have had disabilities a lot longer than me.
“David Weir has such a wealth of knowledge as one of the greatest wheelchair racers of all time, so it’s been great. When I first started, I never dreamed of coming this far, so I saw people who made it to here.”
Her first competition on the international stage came in 2022 at the IOS World Games in Portugal, where she took home three silvers and a bronze, but more opportunities have fallen her way since.
She said: “Portugal was the first time I had done something big and international. I think that was great for starting my international career.
“There are loads of different competitions at home, but something else I have enjoyed was going to Dubai in February, where I won bronze in the 1500m.
“That was one of the highlights of my career, to be surrounded by so many incredible people. Going with a team all the way to Dubai was really special.”
But these Commonwealth Games will be the pinnacle of Kottas’ career so far, which comes with its own pressure.
She said: “Getting the call saying I was representing Team England was honestly incredible. You know it’s a possibility, but until you get that call, there’s always a part of you thinking, ‘is it going to happen or not?’
“I don’t think it will fully sink in until I’m actually there in the stadium. I do think about it a lot, but I’m just trying to enjoy the experience.
“I’m excited to be part of the team. I always love getting kit! And I also love different sports – interacting with loads of different athletes from loads of different countries.”
Team England are Ready to Win at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Keep up to date on https://teamengland.org/
