Quote of the Week

"Disability is not a ‘brave struggle’ or ‘courage in the face of adversity.’ Disability is an art…It’s an ingenious way to live."

Neil Marcus, playwright

Paralympic Athlete Highlight

Aaron Phipps (Great Britain)

Sport: Wheelchair Rugby

Aaron competes for Team GB and Cardiff Pirates.

Aaron initially competed in Wheelchair Racing from 2007 onwards, was introducted to Wheelchair Rugby in 2009. He made his debut at the 2009 European Championships in Hillerod, Denmark, where the team achieved a 4th place finish.

Phipps lost both his lower legs and his finger tips after contracting meningitis as a teenager.

He is a real advantage to the team and he is a key offensive threat due to his speed and power around the court.

In a recent interview with Channel 4, Aaron was asked about representing Team GB at the Paralympics and said "It is the highest level an athlete can compete at and it would be amazing to represent your country."

Quote of the Week

"The only one who can tell you 'you can't ' is you. And you don't have to listen."
Nike

Paralympic Athlete Highlight

David Weir (Great Britain)

Sport: Athletics

After winning Gold medals in the 800m and 1500m in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, Britain's top wheelchair racer and track athlete will be aiming to add to his medal collection.

Weir made his debut in 1996 at the Atlanta Paralympic Games and London 2012 will be his fourth Games appearance (he did not compete in the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games).

This year has already been a highly successful year for Weir as he collected his sixth London Marathon victory, equalling the record of Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.

He is competing in four events in London; the 800m, 1500m, 5,000m and the marathon.

Quote of the Week

"ONLY POSSIBILITIES".

John Maclean
Paraplegic Athlete

Paralympic Athlete Highlight

Oscar Pistorius (South Africa)

Sport: Athletics

Oscar Pistorius is probably one of the most instantly recognisable Paralympians today. Often referred to as Blade Runner, he debuted at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens winning Bronze in the T44 (one leg amputated below the knee) 100-metre event. Whilst competing in the preliminary round of the 200 metres event he fell but still managed to qualify for the final where he went on to win Gold in a world record time of 21.97 seconds.

Pistorius fought a highly publicised battle with the governing body the IAAF over his prosthetic limbs and he was eventually cleared to run against able-bodied competitors in 2008.

At the Beijing Paralympics in 2008, he won three Golds and at last year's able-bodied World Championships in Daegu, he reached the semi-finals.

He is hoping to make history by qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics before competing in the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Quote of the Week

"You are not disabled by your disabilities but abled by your abilities."

Oscar Pistorius

Athlete, South Africa