The 2012 Games were his first, as the national team had not qualified for Beijing. Ballou was one of seven US Paralympians from Virginia competing in London, and his family flew to London to watch him play. Many people came to watch the Games, with 80,000 people showing up to the opening ceremonies and 25,000 people showing up to watch his team play Great Britain. The United States was drawn in Group B with Ukraine, Great Britain and Brazil. The Americans did not win a single game, losing all 5 matches they played in. After the Games when he returned to the USA, he was with the team when they met US President Barack Obama. His participation in London gave him the resolve to try to make the roster for the 2016 Games.