A PARA-ROWER from Bracknell is aiming to secure a spot in Tokyo 2020's Paralympic team.

Kingsley Ijomah, who is also a professional coder, hopes to inspire other disabled people to get involved in the sport.

The 33 year-old was persuaded to take up para-rowing by members of his then wife's rowing squad.

He recalled: "When I went to dinner nights at the club, they said I should try rowing because I have broad shoulders.

"I found out there was adaptive rowing, or para-rowing. I went and gave it a go and absolutely loved it.

"It is the most liberating thing."

Mr Ijomah was diagnosed with polio at about nine months old and needs crutches to walk as a result.

"My left leg muscle is completely wasted and my left arm is slightly stronger than the right," he explained.

"I use a wheelchair to travel long distances."

He appreciates the social and competitive aspects of disabled sport much more than the health benefits.

He added: "Going to the gym is boring and with competitive sport getting fit is a by-product of something much bigger."

Nigerian-born Mr Ijomah came to the UK when he was 14 and started coding two years later when he looked for something with which to occupy himself.

"I didn't want to be stacking shelves and needed something that required sitting down and just getting on with it. Well I thought computers," he said.

"I remember after Year 11 I had to choose a present the school would give me for achievement, and I chose Java and C++ textbooks."

Now Mr Ijomah has his own YouTube channel and Meetup group to encourage others into taking up coding, especially disabled people.

He continued: "This is a skill which I found relatively easy to grasp and is hugely in demand."

The disabled sportsman is keeping his fingers crossed for Tokyo 2020, but in the meantime believes disability shouldn't prevent individuals from fulfilling their potential.

"One of the challenges for disabled people is to have a rich, meaningful, active life," he reflected.

"Rowing and coding have given me that."