Adrian Adepitan

Ade Adepitan MBE (born 27 March 1973) is a British television presenter and wheelchair basketball player. He is in a wheelchair because he contracted polio aged three. Although without the use of his left leg, it has left him with strong arms, which allow him to be a keen diver.

Adepitan was a member of the Great Britain team that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens and the gold medal at the 2005 Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.

Adepitan was made a Member of the British Empire for services to disability sport in 2005. He was also presented with an Honorary Doctorate from Loughborough University, in recognition of his outstanding services to, and performances in, disabled sport.

Ade is patron of disability sport charity, WheelPower who are based at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympics.

Adepitan works as a very enthusiastic television presenter for the BBC. He has hosted shows including "Xchange" on the CBBC Channel and has reported for "Sportsround" and the travel show "Holiday". He also appeared on the BBC One "Hip-Hop" ident as the lead dancer. Adepitan has occasionally provided analysis for Five's NBA basketball coverage, alongside Mark Webster and Andre Alleyne.

In 2006, Adepitan featured in the CBBC drama "Desperados" about a wheelchair basketball team.

He is also a commentator for wheelchair basketball for the BBC at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing.

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/06_june/11/honours.shtml MBEs for CBBC's Ade Adepitan and South Today's Sally Taylor]
* [http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article575473.ece Not just anybody: Ade Adepitan]
* [http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/publicity/degree_days/2006/Summer/Adepitan.html Summer 2006 Oration - Ade Adepitan]