Nic Hamilton
Nic Hamilton is a racing driver who grew up with cerebral palsy and turned early barriers into fuel for elite sport. He explains how he manages pain and physical challenges, stayed...
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Who are you?
I'm Nicholas Hamilton, British racing driver, author. Born with cerebral palsy, spastic diplegia from two months premature, and I try and live life in the best way that I can. I love games. I play a lot of Call of Duty badly, very poorly, but I'm addicted to it. It's a good addiction to have, and I just try and live life to the best of my ability in the best way that I can, and then try and inspire people at the same time as I move forward.
What was it like growing up with cerebral palsy?
It was tough. I knew nothing about it. Neither did my parents or family, and I was the only person with it. So it was hard to understand who I was and why I had this disability, and I just tried to do my best with my disability to try and overcome it as fast as possible, really physically, but also mentally. I struggled to walk a lot of the time. Had an operation, which a lot of people with cerebral palsy do, have spastic diplegia. Cerebral palsy is my type of disability, and that sort of gave me new legs, new lease of life to live with my disability. A bit more flexibility, but it was tough and it still is tough. I'm now 33 walking fully unaided, where initially I was told I would never be able to walk. So yeah, I've achieved some cool things to be able to walk, but it is still tough to live with, but I've accepted it.
What barriers or challenges did you face early on?
I would say I face many barriers. Firstly, trying to overcome this disability, trying to understand why I'm different to everybody is the hardest barrier to try and overcome, and then trying to fit into normal society, go to school, make friends, potentially have a girlfriend when you look and walk different. I was also the only person of colour at my school as well as being the only disabled person at school. So it was difficult, and I guess I face barriers every day with walking physically. Even though I'm 33 now, doesn't necessarily mean that the barriers get easier. I've just got more experience on how to overcome 'em. And with every barrier that I overcome, it builds me from the outside inwards, realising once you overcome one barrier, the next barrier that comes along your way, you've got the strength and all the tools you need to understand how to get over it. And so the barriers never stop, but I do what I can to keep charging forward.