"I don't take them for granted" - Kyle Marsh flies out to seventh European Championships

The competition tips off in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, today and runs until Saturday, October 18 - with Britain's men looking to match their undefeated run at the 2023 event.

Marsh - who has won silver and bronze medals at the Paralympics - said: “It’s a great honour to be selected for my seventh European Championships.

"I definitely appreciate each one, and I don’t take them for granted at all.

"I’m really excited about this one because I feel like the team is in a very exciting place.

"We have a great opportunity to get a medal, so hopefully we go and win it all – that’s the goal."

Marsh first took to the basketball court 13 years ago upon the suggestion of his swimming coach. Just three years later he had earned a call-up to represent the GB under-22 team at the 2006, 2008 and 2010 European Championships – winning silver at the latter event and earning a place in the All-Star Team.

He made his Paralympic debut at the 2016 Rio Games, helping the team to claim bronze, before following that up with a silver at the Paris 2024 Games.

“It’s always nice to be able to represent Wolverhampton because it’s where I began," he added. "If it wasn’t for my local team at that time, Wolverhampton Rhinos, I wouldn’t be where I am now so I always have that appreciation and I understand I was very lucky to have a home team to play for and to grow with.

"I always think back to them days and appreciate the people that helped me along that journey, whether it’s coaches or family members that were able to take me to training and able to support me.

"I always feel like it’s nice to, if possible, to try and give back however I can to Wolverhampton.

"It’s always in my mind, even though I’m not living there anymore, I’m still from Wolverhampton and I like to represent Wolverhampton.”

Bill Johnson and Joey Johnson, the coaching team for GB Men, have been hard at work ensuring the squad is in top condition - introducing more young players into the squad, a challenge Marsh relishes.

“The new talent is exciting," he said. "Every year there just seems to be someone else who’s coming on to the scene and making a real opportunity for themselves.

"This year, it’s been Oscar Knight, last year with Peter Cusack and Lee Fryer, it’s so exciting.

"They bring so much energy to the group, having these fresh guys with fresh ideas and the amount of energy they bring to the court is unmatched.

"For us older players, it keeps us going, keeps us energised, keep us fighting, so it’s so beneficial to the group."