'Ellie Simmonds was inspirational. Now it's my turn to win gold'
Team GB's swimmers have high hopes of success in London
Wednesday 22 August 2012
Related articles
Ellie Simmonds is still only 17, but she is already a veteran when it comes to winning gold medals. Representing Team GB in Beijing four years ago, as the youngest team member, she eventually came home with two Paralympic swimming golds and a place in the hearts of the nation's sports fans.
She also inspired Amy Marren, who celebrated her 14th birthday only a week ago, to take up the sport at the age of 10. Now Amy has been given the chance to swim alongside her heroine in London.
Amy, who was born without a right hand, told reporters at a press event in Manchester: "I only got into swimming when I watched Ellie winning a double gold in Beijing. I turned around to my mum and said, 'That's what I want to do'.
"I did not even expect to qualify to tell the truth. I am still a little starstruck around Ellie and feel as inspired by her as I was when I was cheering her on in Beijing."
The road to qualifying had been hard, she added. "My family has been amazing. My 10-year-old sister has had to miss so many parties through coming to watch me... She swims as well and is going to be so much faster than me when she's older. She also wants to take it as far as she can."
All of the Team GB swimmers The Independent spoke to yesterday had stories to tell. Third-time Paralympian Claire Cashmore revealed how a childhood snub while her family was living in Dubai had led to her becoming "a water baby".
She said: "I moved to Dubai when I was five. Before that I was really nervous of swimming. But when I was nine another little girl told me I couldn't swim – and I was determined to prove her wrong.
"It is important people are exposed to someone with a disability and realise it's normal, because there are so many opportunities for disabled people out there."
She said she was even more thrilled to be competing in front of a home crowd. "When I was in Beijing hearing the Chinese cheer, I thought, 'This would be great if it was in London'. So now it is like a dream come true. What drives me is that feeling of standing on the podium, wearing the GB tracksuit and seeing that flag rising.
"I have been dreaming of it for I don't know how many years and it is going to be so exciting – although my lifetime goal is still to be a Blue Peter presenter."
Although the Paralympians were thrilled with Team GB's achievements in the Olympics, for Ellie Simmonds the most important part of London 2012 is still to come. "I just can't wait to walk out with all the crowd behind me. I remember when the Chinese athletes got a massive roar it gave me a buzz as if they were shouting to me.
"To have the experience of that, to know what it's like, and be up for it is definitely going to give me a bit of an advantage."
Sport blogs
iBet: Mercedes and Hamilton to roar in Monaco
Monaco is a street circuit where driver ability is more important than anywhere else and if we take ...
by Gareth Purnell
24 May 2013 02:00 AM
On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: It sounds sadistic, but the team live for the mountain stages
Three weeks ago as I drove off the Eurostar, I remember thinking what a very long time it was until ...
by Martin Ayres
23 May 2013 05:29 PM
iBet: Rose has the ammunition for Wentworth
McDowell did brilliantly to land the World Match Play title in Bulgaria last week, but it’s a format...
by Gareth Purnell
23 May 2013 09:13 AM
- 1 Man and woman arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder victim of Woolwich machete attack, named as Drummer Lee Rigby
- 2 'Sickening, deluded and unforgivable': Horrific attack brings terror to London’s streets
- 3 Grace Dent: I’m not sure how these people can avoid being called ‘bigots’. And the more ‘civilised’, the worse they are
- 4 Woolwich murder: They killed, then they performed - these men should be starved of our attention
- 5 Woolwich attack: The EDL will seek to exploit this evil crime for their own evil ends
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Making reading fun for kids
Nook is donating eReaders to volunteers at high-need schools and participating in exclusive events throughout the campaign.
Introducing the 'Get Reading' campaign
Get the latest on The Evening Standard's campaign to get London's children reading.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Day In a Page
The man who's eaten everywhere
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?
Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed
Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them




Comments