Ade Adepitan

Ade Adepitan is a professional basketball player and Paralympic medal winner who was born in Lagos, Nigeria and raised in East London. At the age of 15 months, he contracted Poliomyelitis. The effects of the virus meant that Ade was unable to use his left leg, and only had partial use of his right leg. Despite this, Ade spent his early years dreaming of playing football, and later trained to play wheelchair basketball for Great Britain. In 2000, he was selected to compete in the Sydney Paralympics and he continued to represent Great Britain for more than five years, going on to win a number of medals including at the Athens Paralympics in 2004.

Following his career in Paralympic sport, Ade was asked to join the presenting team for the London 2012 Paralympic games and has now become a familiar face in the UK with his trademark cheeky grin and flowing dreadlocks, presenting a range of shows across the BBC including The Travel Show and Children in Need.

Ade has travelled the world for his work, exploring the history and cultures of countries across the globe and campaigning in the fight against polio.

In 2018, Ade released the first title in a new children’s adventure book series, Ade’s Amazing Ade-ventures, in which he introduces young readers to the early years of his life in England and the warmth and solace he found in sharing, caring and playing with his gang of loyal friends.