Paralympics 2016: Team GB’s Stephen Miller ready for sixth Games after late intervention

Exclusive: 20 years at the top is amazing in itself but Miller is just as pumped now as he was all those moons ago

Stephen Miller is Team GB's most experienced Paralympian (Getty)

Stephen Miller was faced with the unenviable problem of having to compete in Rio – remarkably his sixth Games – without the input of his coach, who happens to double up as his mother, until a pair of unlikely saviours stepped in.

Sir John Hall, the former Newcastle United owner, and a local ice cream shop heard of Miller’s plight and helped pay for Mrs Miller’s airfare to Brazil ahead of this week’s Paralympics much to the relief of the 36-year-old from Northumberland – and a massive Magpies fan - who has never competed at a Games without his coach in tow.

“My mam is coming out with my brother next week,” Miller, who competes in the Club Throw (the equivalent of the javelin), tells The Independent in his strong Geordie accent from Team GB’s training camp in Belo Horizonte. “They’ve been to every Paralympics that I have competed at so it’s really important that they could come. My mam is also my coach so it that makes a big difference.

“Sir John Hall and the Ciccarelli ice cream shop in Blyth very kindly donated some money to help with the cost of coming out here because it’s very expensive.”

As you would expect for Mrs Miller and her son, who first pulled on the GB vest at the Atlanta Games, they have experienced the full gamut of emotions the Paralympics can offer. Miller, who was born with cerebral palsy, was just 16 back in 96 - “I didn’t know what I was doing back then” - but won the Club Throw title to become Great Britain’s youngest ever track and field gold medal winner (Paralympics or Olympics). It was a dream start and he backed it up with gold in Sydney four years later and again in Athens in the next Games.

He must have thought this Paralympics lark was easy. However, he thudded back to earth in the last two Games, taking silver in Beijing before finishing 12th in London.

There were reasons for that, though, and now he feels fit and firing so much so that gold is back in reach some 20 years after he first tasted glory.

“I haven’t won a world medal since 2011,” he says. “So it would be nice to get back on the podium, that’s my target. It’s going to be a tough competition, like it always is in my event, but I know that if I can hit a big throw I could end with gold.

Miller celebrates one of many success in 2008 (Getty)

“I missed out at the last two Paralympics so if I get gold here it would be amazing; 20 years after my first gold. I’m confident I’ll be in the mix.”

He was never in the mix in London as he wasn’t fit – but, having been named as captain for the Athletics team, he was desperate to compete. “London was the hardest time of my life,” he says. “I had a problem with my hip. I’d been told about two years before that I needed a new one but I put it off and competed because I didn’t want to miss a home Games. I had to go through a lot of pain and heartache.

“But I’m still proud that I represented my country in London and being captain is something that I will always be proud of. I didn’t want to take any chances that I might miss it: a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was just a shame I couldn’t be fit.”

Twenty years at the top is amazing in itself but he is just as pumped up now as he was all those moons ago. “I’m very excited,” he says. “This is my sixth Games but I look at every one as if it’s my first. You always get excited about a Paralympics: I know how much hard work I put in to get here. So now it’s just a case of making the most of it and enjoying an amazing experience. I’ve kept that enthusiasm and passion I had as a 16-year-old for competing and that’s why I’m still here.”

Miller, who also competed in Discus and Shot Putt for GB in the past, has competed in five World Championships and four European Championships to go with his soon-to-be six Paralympics and has won 26 international medals. He went unbeaten for nine years at one stage. Yet he is most proud of his silver in China.

“That’s the one I pick out because even though it wasn’t a gold it was the best performance of my career. It was the furthest I’ve ever thrown. To come from fourth on the last throw to get a silver – that’s the one I am most proud of.”

As one of the senior citizens of Team GB – in terms of experience not age he is keen to point out - he will try to advise the youngsters. “It’s good for them to ask me questions and for me to help them. There are a lot of athletes here who are doing their first Games so it’s going to be a great experience but a steep learning curve.

“My advice would be to enjoy the experience and don’t get too obsessed about the Games and what it means because that can affect your own performance. It’s the biggest event in the world for disability sport, it’s once every four years, so take it all in.”

Ticket sales are slow due to a lack of publicity in Brazil as much as anything. Does that annoy Miller? “Not really,” he says. “There have been some positive vibes in the last few days. The Olympics weren’t very well attended at the start but it picked up as the Games went on. It will be the same here. Once it gets going there will be a good atmosphere.

“London was the best Paralympics there’s been so it will be hard to compare with that. It’s going to be very different, as has every one I’ve been to. You’ve just got to enjoy it for what it is.”

Miller competes in the Men's Club Throw at London 2012 (Getty)

So, back to his beloved Newcastle, for whom he is secretary of their Disabled Supporters Association. Will he keep up with what is going on at St James?

“Yeah, but I’ve timed it quite well because of the international break. I only miss one game. As for transfers, I’m happy with £30m for Sissoko… as long as it’s reinvested in January.”

And doen’t go into owner Mike Ashley’s pocket? “Ha, ha, ha… No comment.”

But you get the feeling if Sir John Hall wanted a slice that would be fine.

Channel 4 will broadcast over 600 hours of the 2016 Paralympics across all platforms, building on the multi award-winning coverage of 2012 and continuing to transform perceptions of disability.