Every 24 seconds is a new opportunity for Team England's Charlie McIntyre.

The 18-year-old from Southend, Essex won bronze as part of the men's 3x3 wheelchair basketball team at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and was recently announced as one of five young athletes to receive the Sir John Hanson Young Talent Scholarship and nominee for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

McIntyre quickly discovered his love for wheelchair basketball after being invited along to join a club in primary school.

Just 10 years later, people were stopping the Commonwealth medallist in the streets of Birmingham for photos and autographs.

"As soon as we played our first game in Birmingham the impact of it being a home crowd hit me, and it was incredible," he said.

"I had never been to a major tournament before, so I didn't know what that sort of crowd was like. I had never played in front of more than 50 people before.

"Going around the city, people wanted to speak to you and asked for your photo! I'm a kid from Southend who plays basketball, no one had ever asked for my photo before, it was ridiculous.

"Putting on that England jersey in front of my parents as well was great as it felt like I was repaying them for the work they put in to help me get to where I am now.

"Getting bronze was amazing but I do think that if we replayed that tournament tomorrow we would win gold."

The moment McIntyre turned 18 he rushed to a tattoo parlour to commemorate his Commonwealth Games experience.

Now sporting the Team England logo on his arm, the basketball player also has the words his dad spoke to him during the competition - a reminder that whenever something goes wrong, there's always another chance around the corner.

"As soon as I turned 18 I got my first tattoo which is a quote my dad actually said to me during the Games," he explained.

"In 3x3 basketball, for each offence, you get 12 seconds on the ball so he said 'every 12 seconds is a new opportunity' because if one thing goes wrong there's always the next chance.

"But I've changed the quote to 24 seconds on my tattoo as that is the time for generic basketball rules and 24 is also my lucky number.

"Then I have the Team England logo and the lion because I wanted to remember the Commonwealth Games since it was my first big tournament."

Post-Birmingham, McIntyre made his name at London Titans Wheelchair Basketball Club, helping the UK-based team to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 EuroCup.


The teenager has since jetted off to sunny Sardinia in Italy, receiving a full-time contract to play for international powerhouse Dinamo Sassuri.

Now living 10 minutes from the beach and spending his days playing basketball, McIntyre is dreaming of a high-flying year on the court with future hopes of another Commonwealth Games apperance.

"I went to the EuroCup, almost the Champions League of wheelchair basketball, where we were the only non-professional team and we came fourth overall," he said.

"Because of that exposure I got my contract offer for Dinamo Sassari where I now wake up every day and go to 'work', which is just playing basketball.

"There's two big competitions in Italy and we're not necessarily favourites for either of them so I'd love to complete the underdog story and knock off the top teams this year to see how far we can go.

"Internationally for me, my bigger goal is to go to another Commonwealth Games and make sure we finally get that gold."

The Sir John Hanson Young Talent Scholarship has been designed to support the next generation of English talent as they embark on a challenging journey, assisting them in fulfilling their potential on the international stage.

McIntyre is thrilled to have been selected for the programme and stated how it is a pivotal source of assistance and inspiration as he looks ahead to a bright future on the basketball court.

"The Hanson Scholarship has been majorly helpful to me," he said.

"It's the first time I've ever had to live on my own and as much as it is fun and games, I have responsibilities now, so it's really helped with my transport and nutrition.

"It's also such an exciting thing to be a part of.

"I'm the only English player on my team and when my teammates heard that I was on the Scholarship, they looked it up and were buzzing for me.

"Seeing people who didn't even know what it was two minutes ago be really happy for me proved just how special it is."