James Ball (cyclist)

James Ball
Personal information
NationalityBritish
Born (1991-06-24) 24 June 1991
Ponthir, Wales
Sport
Country Great Britain
SportPara-cycling
B
Medal record
Men's Para-cycling
Representing  Great Britain
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place2024 ParisTandem B kilo
Silver medal – second place2020 TokyoTandem B kilo
Track World Championships
Gold medal – first place2017 Los AngelesTandem B kilo
Gold medal – first place2017 Los AngelesTandem B sprint
Gold medal – first place2019 ApeldoornTandem Kilo
Gold medal – first place2020 MiltonTandem sprint
Gold medal – first place2022 Saint-Quentin-en-YvelinesTandem B sprint
Gold medal – first place2025 Rio de JaneiroTandem B kilo
Gold medal – first place2025 Rio de JaneiroTandem B sprint
Silver medal – second place2018 Rio de JaneiroTandem B kilo
Silver medal – second place2019 ApeldoornTandem Sprint
Silver medal – second place2020 MiltonTandem Kilo
Silver medal – second place2022 Saint-Quentin-en-YvelinesTandem B kilo
Silver medal – second place2023 GlasgowTandem B kilo
Silver medal – second place2024 Rio de JaneiroTandem B kilo
Bronze medal – third place2016 MontichiariTandem B sprint
Bronze medal – third place2018 Rio de JaneiroTandem B Sprint
Bronze medal – third place2025 Rio de JaneiroMixed team sprint B
Representing  Wales
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2022 BirminghamTandem B sprint
Silver medal – second place2018 Gold CoastTandem B sprint
Silver medal – second place2018 Gold CoastTandem B kilo
Silver medal – second place2022 BirminghamTandem B kilo
Silver medal – second place2026 GlasgowTandem B kilo

James Ball (born 24 June 1991) is a Welsh para-cyclist who competes in tandem races as an athlete with a visual impairment.[1] Ball is a multiple world champion across the tandem sprint events. He won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in the tandem B kilo alongside his pilot Steffan Lloyd.

Cycling career

Welshman Ball started his sporting career as a swimmer, before moving to athletics. The visually impaired athlete was in line to earn selection in track and field for ParalympicsGB at London 2012, however suffered an injury which ended those aspirations.

On his journey back to full fitness, Ball took part in turbo testing arranged by British Cycling, and his potential on a bike was discovered.

Paired with pilot Craig McLean, Ball took a bronze medal away from his first world championships, in 2016. Paralympic selection – and fifth place in the kilo – followed, before a golden 2017 saw Ball and Matt Rotherham win a sprint double at the world championships in Los Angeles.

Further medals were gained – at both the world championships and the Commonwealth Games – in 2018 where he won Wales's first medal, a silver in the men's B&VI 1,000m time trial.[2]

Ball returned to the top step of the podium at the 2019 world championships, winning the kilo alongside Pete Mitchell.

In 2020 Ball teamed up with Stewart, and the partnership got off to a hugely promising start, winning sprint gold and kilo silver at the world championships in Milton.

In 2021 Ball expanded his collection landing the silver in the men's 1000m time trial at the Tokyo games, further cementing his partnership with Lewis Stewart where they narrowly missed out on the gold to fellow GB teammates Neil Fachie and Matt Rotherham.

At the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Ball and pilot Steffan Lloyd won the men's B 1 km time trial—their first world title in the event—clocking 1:00.773.[3][4]

Personal history

Ball was born in 1991, and comes from Ponthir in Wales.

References

  1. ↑ "James Ball". britishcycling.org.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Commonwealth Games: Para-cyclist James Ball wins Wales' first medal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "Unwin and Holl storm to pursuit gold on day of firsts for the Great Britain Cycling Team". British Cycling. British Cycling. 18 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "2025 UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships: gold for seven nations on second day". Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). UCI. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
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