Five to Watch ; After Great Britain's Second-Place Success in Beijing, We Look at the Homegrown Stars Most Likely to Strike Gold in 2012
Evening Standard - London › August 27, 2009
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Summary
SOPHIE CHRISTIANSEN Equestrian, age 21 A cerebral palsy sufferer, she first climbed into the saddle at a riding school near her home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, as a form of therapy for the disease. She was just when she won individual bronze at the Athens Games and then won double gold in Beijing in the individual and team events. Christiansen's journey from critically-ill infant to top-class horsewoman inspired Sir Paul McCartney to spearhead a charity campaign that raised million for the British Paralympic team in . FINEST MOMENT Christiansen, made an MBE last year for her Beijing performance, said: "I hope I can make disabled sport more recognised. You should always go to an event with gold in mind."
DERVIS KONURALP Swimmer, age 29 AFTER being blinded by Stargardt's maculor dystrophy disease as a child, Konuralp, from Rochester, Kent, became a talented all-rounder in disabled sport. He won a London inter-schools high-jump championship and was crowned London sailing champion. But he specialised in swimming and has competed in four Paralympics, winning two bronze medals in freestyle and individual medley events. Konuralp, who has a degree in computer science, had been due to retire after to join the family property development business but changed his mind when London won the bid. Training at the Olympic-sized London Fields lido, he was the only London-based swimmer to attend the Paralympics .See the full content of this document
Extract
Five to Watch ; After Great Britain's Second-Place Success in Beijing, We Look at the Homegrown Stars Most Likely to Strike Gold in 2012
FINEST MOMENT Winning bronze in the individual medley in Athens: "I have never allowed my disability to stand in the way of my goals. Sport has given me confidence and drive."
ELEANOR SIMMONDS Swimmer, age 14 At "Ellie" was the youngest British athlete in Beijing and was the face of the Great Britain team. T...See the full content of this document
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