Rebecca Adlingtonand Zara Phillips may have stepped out of the limelight for now, but our Paralympians are just getting started...
It’s official; the London 2012 Paralympic Games will be the biggest ever. And with a record amount of participants, sponsors and tickets sold, expect something spectacular from Team GB too. Blazing the trail is Sarah Storey. The inspirational medal-winning cyclist, born without the use of her left hand, has won gold in able-bodied events and has 16 swimming medals too.
Now that’s impressive. But who else should you watch out for over the next month?
SOPHIA WARNER, 38, ATHLETICS
After quitting a high-flying £75,000-a year job in marketing to become a Paralympic athlete, the European record holder, who has cerebral palsy, has her sights set on 100m gold after winning silver at last year’s World Championships.
SHELLY WOODS, 26, WHEELCHAIR RACING
After injuring her spinal cord as a child, Shelly tried all wheelchair sports before settling on racing. One of GB’s most determined athletes, she won the London marathon earlier this year – 1,500m glory in 2012 is definitely within her grasp.
ELLIE SIMMONDS, 17, SWIMMING
A household name during Beijing 2008 at the age of 13, Ellie’s lively personality and already-impressive haul of 18 medals has made the swimmer, who has achondroplasia – a type of dwarfism – a true GB ‘golden girl’. Watch out for her in the 400m freestyle.
DANIELLE BROWN, 21, ARCHERY
The first British Paralympian to take part in an able-bodied event, Brown suffers from reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and has to use a stool while shooting. A gold at Beijing 2008 makes her a real podium contender.
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