[3] Harris' involvement in parasports began when a friend persuaded him to attend a gym in an attempt to improve his fitness and give him focus.

Harris originally decided to not apply for the team, after being disgusted at what he saw was the poor treatment of Paralympic athletes in comparison to their Olympic counterparts.

[3] At the Games, held at short notice at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, England, Harris was entered for the discus, shot put and javelin.

Before his final attempt he was sitting in sixth place, but his Paralympic record breaking throw gave him the gold medal.

[3] Harris states that his outlook to life changed after the games, becoming less self-centered and in 1986 he joined up with his training partner and good friend Chris Hallam, who was also an outstanding Paralympic athlete having won gold in the pool at Stoke Mandeville.

[8] The funds they raised allowed for the building of national centre for disability sport to be built at the University of Wales Institute, at the Cyncoed Campus site.