Will Bayley has a habit of overcoming obstacles. Born with arthrogryposis, a painful and debilitating joint condition affecting his entire body, Bayley is also a cancer survivor. Bloodied but unbowed, Bayley has risen to the top of the world's para table tennis rankings. At the 2016 Paralympics, he was crowned the men’s singles class 7 champion. This fall, the 31-year-old Bayley faced perhaps his most daunting challenge to date. Ever the showman, he accepted an invitation to compete on the BBC's hit show, "Strictly Come Dancing." Partnered with professional dancer Janette Manrara, Bayley had beaten the odds and progressed to the fifth round of the competition. Just as things were coming up roses for Bayley, life hit him with one of its signature sucker punches. During last weeks' rehearsals, Bayley fell awkwardly and tore his ACL. "I knew I had felt my knee pop and I was in agony," said Bayley afterward. "I’m not going to lie, the second I landed and felt it I thought 'Tokyo,'" he continued, referencing next year's Paralympic games where he has every intention of defending his class 7 gold medal. Upon his doctor's orders, Bayley had to tender his resignation to "Strictly Come Dancing." Wearing a metal brace on his leg, he will be evaluated in six weeks to see if surgery is required. The grueling rehabilitation and accelerated training required to retain the title may be his toughest test yet for this relentlessly driven champion. As life concocts yet another test of Will, only a fool would bet against him.

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