---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Disability sport came about largely…"
description: "\"Disability sport came about largely because of exclusion, because mainstream sport didn't want disabled people to be part of it.\" — Tanni Grey-Thompson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_about_disability-sport-came-about-largely-beca_496991.jpg"
---

#  Disability sport came about largely because of exclusion…

![“Disability sport came about largely because of exclusion, because mainstream sport didn't want disabled people to be part of it.” quote by Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_about_disability-sport-came-about-largely-beca_496991.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_about_disability-sport-came-about-largely-beca_496991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_about_disability-sport-came-about-largely-beca_496991.jpg)

> “Disability sport came about largely because of exclusion, because mainstream sport didn't want disabled people to be part of it.”

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Disability sports emerged as a response to exclusion, providing opportunities where mainstream sport denied participation.

**In simple terms:** Disabled athletes created their own sports.

Key Takeaway

Support inclusive opportunities.

Themes

inclusion exclusion sports disability rights empowerment

Mood

inspiring determined

Type

activist motivational

When to use this quote

- school programs
- community leagues
- national competitions
- policy advocacy

Key Concepts

social activism policy change community building

Questions to Reflect On

- How can mainstream sport become truly inclusive?
- What barriers remain for disabled athletes?

A Different Perspective

Exclusion persists in many areas.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Disability Sport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disability-sport-991009/) [Disabled People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disabled-people/) [Exclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exclusion/) [Exclusion Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exclusion-mainstream-4239519/) [Mainstream Sport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream-sport-3233189/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Part](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sport Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sport-didn-793782/)

## Related quotes

> [The Paralympian Chris Hallam, who has died aged 50, was one of the most influential athletes in the development of disability sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/the-paralympian-chris-hallam-who-has-died-aged-50-was-one-of-the-most/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [What I loved about bike racing was that it was not a mainstream sport. My heroes were self-made. There were no coaches, no training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-tesich/what-i-loved-about-bike-racing-was-that-it-was-not-a-mainstream-sport/)

[Steve Tesich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-tesich/)

> [In the 1940s, boxing was a mainstream sport and deeply ingrained the fabric of Harlem. Joe Louis ruled the world, but the local icon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hauser/in-the-1940s-boxing-was-a-mainstream-sport-and-deeply-ingrained-the/)

[Thomas Hauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hauser/)

> [The situation in disability sport is growing, and girls like Ellie Cole are doing wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-du-toit/the-situation-in-disability-sport-is-growing-and-girls-like-ellie/)

[Natalie du Toit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-du-toit/)

> [Paralympic sport and other disability sport can and should be celebrated in its own right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/paralympic-sport-and-other-disability-sport-can-and-should-be/)

[Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/)

> [I grew up in a sport that didn't allow you to grow up. There was always the threat of younger competition. So you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-rigby/i-grew-up-in-a-sport-that-didn-t-allow-you-to-grow-up-there-was/)

[Cathy Rigby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-rigby/)

> [I love sports. I was an athlete in high school, and my school was so small we didn't have a football team, so it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-aselton/i-love-sports-i-was-an-athlete-in-high-school-and-my-school-was-so/)

[Katie Aselton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-aselton/)

> [I wouldn't be in this sport if I didn't think I could make it to the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whittaker/i-wouldn-t-be-in-this-sport-if-i-didn-t-think-i-could-make-it-to-the/)

[Robert Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whittaker/)

> [“Someone once asked him if there was any sport he didn’t like, and he replied “Politics. They should stop showing that on TV.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/someone-once-asked-him-if-there-was-any-sport-he-didn-t-like-and-he/)

[Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/)

> [I was just kind of sour with the sport. I didn't want anything to do with it. I went into a period of excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-moir/i-was-just-kind-of-sour-with-the-sport-i-didn-t-want-anything-to-do/)

[Scott Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-moir/)

> [Disabled people are not homogenous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/disabled-people-are-not-homogenous/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [When I was young, I didn't see disabled people on the streets, and it wasn't because they weren't there. It was because they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/when-i-was-young-i-didn-t-see-disabled-people-on-the-streets-and-it/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [Legacy means so many things: accessible venues, transport, better awareness in schools, and a wonderful event which establishes healthy lives for another generation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/legacy-means-so-many-things-accessible-venues-transport-better/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [Most disabled people get used to a certain level of abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/most-disabled-people-get-used-to-a-certain-level-of-abuse/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [The thing most disabled people cite when they are seriously or terminally ill is not the pain, not the suffering - it's being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/the-thing-most-disabled-people-cite-when-they-are-seriously-or/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

## More by Tanni Grey-Thompson

> [People come up to me and say 'I wouldn't want to live if I was like you.' And I say 'Actually, my life's pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/people-come-up-to-me-and-say-i-wouldn-t-want-to-live-if-i-was-like/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [Every disabled person's experience is different. As a wheelchair user I can experience something different from someone who is visually impaired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/every-disabled-person-s-experience-is-different-as-a-wheelchair-user/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [I'm too much of a coward for plastic surgery, but if I could wave a magic wand and change something, it would be my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-m-too-much-of-a-coward-for-plastic-surgery-but-if-i-could-wave-a/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [When I was competing we were training 15 times a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/when-i-was-competing-we-were-training-15-times-a-week/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [Twenty years in sport has given me a broad perspective on life, bringing me into contact with a variety of social issues, and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/twenty-years-in-sport-has-given-me-a-broad-perspective-on-life/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [When I started, nobody knew what the Paralympics were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/when-i-started-nobody-knew-what-the-paralympics-were/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [I remember trying to go to the cinema with my friends, so I must have been nine or 10, and being told I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-remember-trying-to-go-to-the-cinema-with-my-friends-so-i-must-have/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [Perhaps we need to redefine our idea of role models; they're not always elite athletes whose success might seem too distant or unachievable. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/perhaps-we-need-to-redefine-our-idea-of-role-models-they-re-not/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [Wheelchairs get lost or damaged during transit because some staff don't always understand how important the equipment is, or the cost of it. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/wheelchairs-get-lost-or-damaged-during-transit-because-some-staff-don/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [The reality for most athletes is that they have to deal with the wrath of the media only after they have performed, not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/the-reality-for-most-athletes-is-that-they-have-to-deal-with-the/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [I have seen first hand the vital role that the physical activity sector - with its widespread workforce of coaches, youth workers, activity professionals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-have-seen-first-hand-the-vital-role-that-the-physical-activity/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [Despite hanging up my racing wheels over a decade ago, I still get a buzz when we enter an Olympic and Paralympic year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/despite-hanging-up-my-racing-wheels-over-a-decade-ago-i-still-get-a/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [I've lost track of the amount of time I've been spoken down to, literally patted on the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-ve-lost-track-of-the-amount-of-time-i-ve-been-spoken-down-to/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [At 70, my late father, Peter, underwent a foot amputation after surgical complications. There were suggestions that at his age being in a wheelchair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/at-70-my-late-father-peter-underwent-a-foot-amputation-after-surgical/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

> [My father was an architect and I grew up knowing more about planning regulations and the constraints of old buildings than most children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/my-father-was-an-architect-and-i-grew-up-knowing-more-about-planning/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

[Explore all 100 Tanni Grey-Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

[Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Disability sport came about largely because of exclusion, because mainstream sport didn't want disabled people to be part of it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tanni Grey-Thompson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/disability-sport-came-about-largely-because-of-exclusion-because/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/disability-sport-came-about-largely-because-of-exclusion-because/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_about_disability-sport-came-about-largely-beca_496991.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_about_disability-sport-came-about-largely-beca_496991.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_about_disability-sport-came-about-largely-beca_496991.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Disability sport came about largely because of exclusion, because mainstream sport didn't want disabled…” — Tanni Grey-Thompson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Tanni Grey-Thompson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Disability sport came about largely because...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/disability-sport-came-about-largely-because-of-exclusion-because/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/disability-sport-came-about-largely-because-of-exclusion-because/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```