A biography for Ellie Simmondshasn’t been written yet.
“My school have been so supportive in the balance between my sport and my studying, ever since I won the two golds in Beijing.”
“I think what I'm most proud of about myself away from the pool, is being OK on my own.”
“I recently met Michael Phelps. He is my absolute idol. I was totally starstruck. I did manage to get a few words out.”
“In China they don't mind getting their cameras out, but I try to go with the flow. In countries where there is not so much disability visible on the streets, they want to know who you are and what you are doing.”
“I'm quite shy at school.”
“People expect you to get golds and it puts so much more pressure on you and if you don't it's like you have let yourself down. It is nerve-racking.”
“In Beijing the emotion built and built. I was at a Paralympics and I was so nervous. When I achieved my goal all that emotion came out.”
“The highlight of my career was London 2012.”
“I've thought about doing sports psychology at university, but it's quite hard.”
“I have grown up in a positive household.”
“Tuna pasta bake is one of my favourites, its quick and easy to make when I'm busy training.”
“I was 8 when I started swimming training, but it wasn't until I was 10 when it became more serious so over the next few years I slowly developed a better understanding of my diet.”
“I think there are definitely times when I feel the expectations on my shoulders and I think it's because even before I race people expect me to get a gold medal and it's not the case.”
“The whole nation thinks I should be winning, winning, winning all the time and that's a lot to take on my shoulders.”
“I've got to go out there and do a job and focus on swimming and do my own thing, and I think us athletes can go out there and perform no matter what... This is what we train to do.”
“Yes, my body is not a machine and I do get those moments when I think 'Why am I doing this?' I think it's common among athletes and I'm sure people do experience it at work as well.”
“I'm OK travelling, meeting people, seeing the world with my own eyes.”
“I lived in Swansea Marina and was a minute's walk from the beach. I used to love going to Mumbles and visiting Gower with its fantastic beaches like Langland, Oxwich and Caswell.”
“I'm just going into London to enjoy it as much as I can. Enjoy the experience and just swim the best that I can on the day.”
“We had a trampoline in the garden that I used to play on lots which was great exercise.”