West Ham United fans will be rooting for their very own Hammer at the Paralympic Games in Rio after Andy Lapthorne revealed his undying love for the club.
Andy Lapthorne sheds a tear after missing out on gold at London 2012
The Hammers brought the curtain down on 112 years of history at their beloved Boleyn Ground at the end of the season with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Manchester United.
All eyes since have been on the big move to the 60,000 seater Olympic Stadium down the road in Stratford.
The iconic stadium has come a long way since Usain Bolt and Team GB’s athletes made history there back in 2012.
One such athlete who made history was West Ham nut and Team GB wheelchair tennis star Andy Lapthorne who won silver in London four years ago.
Hammer Lapthorne in action
Lapthorne has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair but can walk for limited periods while he also struggles to fully straighten his arms.
But that hasn’t stopped him rising up to third in the world rankings and travelling to Brazil in search of the gold medal he just missed out on back in London, where his beloved Hammers have taken over Queen Elizabeth Park and have vowed to maintain the Olympic and Paralympic legacy.
Lapthorne with his Paralympic silver medal
The 25-year-old, who was born in Middlesex, will play Alberto Corridi of Italy first up on Friday (3pm UK time) but has told Channel 4 that as much as he loves tennis, he lives for West Ham.
“West Ham would be my (specialist) subject over the last 15-20 years,” Lapthorne told Channel 4.
“That’s what I live for, other than tennis, the football is what I live for.
“I sit in the normal seats, I don’t sit in the old hospitality, so I’m in with all the fans and that’s my passion to go and follow them with all my mates, we go and travel up and down the country watching West Ham play.”
West Ham’s Olympic Stadium – now referred to as London Stadium
So what does the man perfectly placed to judge his club’s decision to up sticks from the treasured Boleyn Ground to the home of the Paralympic Games during which he won his silver medal think of West Ham’s big move?
“I was at the last game at Upton Park, it was an unbelievable, unbelievable experience just a very special atmosphere and something that any athlete would dream to play in an atmosphere like that,” Lapthorne added.
“I mean obviously having done the opening ceremony there (in 2012) and being cheered to the rafters by 80,000 people I have a special connection with the Olympic Stadium and for us to be playing there, I mean it’s just, I still can’t get used to the idea.
“It’s just going to take our club to the next level, and I just can’t wait really.”
Lapthorne wants to bring home the gold to share with his fellow Hammers
The wheelchair tennis star is also an avid Tweeter and has been posting updates from Rio including a picture of him doing the crossed Hammers next to the Rio 2016 sign.
Obviously Andy’s big focus now is on bringing home the gold but with an added incentive.
“Imagine bringing a gold medal back to the Olympic stadium in east London in front of 57k Hammers,” he said on Twitter.
“Ultimate redemption and that’s the goal!”
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