Ellie Simmonds

“I'm studying psychology at Loughborough and there are so many sportspeople here - you actually see top athletes walking around - but people see them all the time, so there's no special treatment.”

“I love the 400m.”

“Our parents were very generous, and they always encouraged us to find something we enjoyed and really get into it.”

“Having all that experience, and that success as well, at a Paralympics was just amazing but I don't really remember much from Beijing, it was quite a blur.”

“It can feel a bit surreal. Sometimes you're talking to famous people and you think, 'Oh gosh, I'm talking to Lewis Hamilton.'”

“I have a coach, a physio and a psychologist.”

“I wear adult sizes but chop off the arms and legs.”

“If you've got a disabilty you're normal, it's just something that's different.”

“I feel I cope with pressure quite well.”

“Swimming outside the pool is scary. I don't like not knowing what's underneath me - it's quite dark in lakes. I swam in the sea in Australia around the Great Barrier Reef, though, and that was incredible because you could see exactly what was underneath you.”

“You only live once and you need to enjoy life, to go out and achieve whatever you want to.”

“I didn't really come on the scene nationally until 2008.”

“As a swimmer I know how important it is to be fit, healthy and eat well.”

“I didn't just swim when I was younger. I did ballet, horse riding, everything. I was very active.”

“I think it's really important to show people that there's nothing different about us; especially as athletes - we train as hard as the Olympians.”

“Going into Beijing I was like 'what's a Paralympics?'”

“I hated Rio and I hated everything about it.”

“On a typical Monday I swim from six until 8am. I go from there to the gym and do a session from nine until half 10. I get home about 11ish. Take a nap and have lunch. Swim from half three to half five. I get home at half six. Have dinner.”

“I'm a Scouts ambassador and I help out with dwarf sports.”

“I'm lucky I've been able to take control, as an older athlete, and pick who I work with.”