Tanni Grey-Thompson

“My parents named me Carys but when my elder sister, Sian, tried to say 'tiny' it came out as Tanni and the nickname stuck.”

“I've had ups and downs, like most people, in my personal and professional life. But I value those - and it is disappointing that others sometimes don't.”

“Wheelchairs get lost or damaged during transit because some staff don't always understand how important the equipment is, or the cost of it. And even if it is brought to the gate promptly after landing, there may not be enough trained staff to help get you into it.”

“I really like dyeing my hair. My mum let me dye it orange when I was six, with one of those wash-in, wash-out things. I haven't been my natural mousey brown since I was 13, and when my hair was really short I'd change the colour every two weeks.”

“I'm not sure the public is always able to differentiate between someone who's terminally ill and someone who's disabled.”

“I competed in the Seoul Olympics in 1988, and the weather we expected meant that I spent several weeks using a heat chamber for a couple of hours a day, being monitored to check I was able to compete at my best when I eventually flew out.”

“Most disabled people get used to a certain level of abuse.”

“Legacy means so many things: accessible venues, transport, better awareness in schools, and a wonderful event which establishes healthy lives for another generation of disabled people. From that base, elite sport can emerge.”

“I'm too much of a coward for plastic surgery, but if I could wave a magic wand and change something, it would be my ears. They are large and they stick out - my left ear farther than my right.”

“No one should be expected to do more than they can remember, which for me would be about five things at a time. This is why I write lists.”

“Any strategy, policy call or future manifesto should not view a child's health through the narrow prism of what they eat, but put diet on an equal footing with mental health and physical activity.”

“The Paralympics defined my life, but they also reach into homes across the nation, redefining public perception of what's possible.”

“Twenty years in sport has given me a broad perspective on life, bringing me into contact with a variety of social issues, and with those experiences have come insight and knowledge.”

“In the past, I admit, I have not been a strong supporter of our top footballers, who seem to get paid a ludicrous amount of money while many other athletes still struggle for good facilities in most parts of the U.K.”

“Obesity is a complex disease, influenced by a multitude of factors.”

“All sports are based on good timing, and this is critical for sportswomen who are considering pregnancy. One of the most important considerations is the 'season': if a woman wants to carry on in sport afterwards, there are certainly good and bad times to choose.”

“We must seek consensus across all political parties that obesity is a complex disease for which no single cause or cure exists.”

“As the Paralympics has evolved and the profile has increased, the coverage has been greater, and there are more Paralympians receiving awards than ever before.”

“I've been in races where from time to time I've been called upon to help a team-mate out, or vice versa. But that is entirely different from knowing on the start line that the team orders are not based around you, but are entirely dependent on what you can deliver.”

“As someone that has always been involved in sport, I firmly believe that people do need to be fitter and healthier in general. This isn't just about running marathons or winning medals - being more active in general, whether that's leaving your car at home or joining a local sports team, will bring all kinds of benefits.”