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wheelchair, I fitted in easily. I made new |
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friends who included me in everything. |
4 | | I enjoyed basketball but it was |
| | athletics I really wanted to do. The |
| | British Athletics Association invited me |
| | for a training weekend. Then I tried out a |
| | racing chair and I've never looked back. |
| | Racing chairs have two wheels at the back and |
| | only one at the front, to make them |
| | streamlined. The hardest part was the |
| | strain on my arms through pushing the |
| | wheels, but I'd found |
| | something I wanted to do really well. |
5 | | Since then, I've trained five times a week |
| | plus once a week strength building at the |
| | gym. It's a tough schedule but I've fitted in |
| | school, a busy social life and a couple of |
| | boyfriends too! Mum and Dad have been |
| | great, driving me all over the country to |
| | compete. And it's paid off because I've now |
| | reached international level. In 2002 |
| | I represented Great Britain in the Junior |
| | Wheelchair Games in the US. Wheelchair |
| | sports are huge in America and the crowd |
| | went crazy.
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6 | | Last year I entered the London Mini |
| | Marathon and I won the female race. I was |
| | third overall and was interviewed by the BBC |
| | - it was amazing! People I'd never met were |
| | congratulating me. I think I know how David |
| | Beckham must feel. My biggest thrill was |
| | taking part in last year's Commonwealth |
| | Games in Manchester. It was a great |
| | experience and I have made up my mind |
| | that I want to represent Britain in the 2008 |
| | Paralympics - so look out for me there! |