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I could have. Madeline was not a quick starter, but a fast finisher. Francesca was on my outside and was a quick starter and – once she hit her top speed – was very consistent, but she didn’t really have a big kick. I knew that I had to start fast, to try to make Madeline panic, and then not give her enough room to pull me in.
    Francesca went off very quickly, and my plan was to work on the first 200 metres, to be past her by the half way point, and then just bury myself until the finish line.
    I only remember the first 50 metres. I got on to Francesca’s shoulder at the 50 metres mark and by the 100 metres mark I knew that I was past her. I don’t remember much else about the race. With 20 metres to go I could feel Madeline coming up behind me, and my only thoughts were about keeping my technique right, and finishing.
    I didn’t have the energy to do a lap of honour, and in any case the crowds were quiet, because it was early on a Sunday morning. Going over to be interviewed, I was asked by Clare how it felt to be Britain’s most successful Paralympian. For once, I couldn’t think of too much to say. I muttered something about it being great, and then I probably gave the cheesiest answer that I have ever given. I said that I was glad that I hadn’t got the film crew out of bed so early for nothing…
    But winning that medal meant a lot to me because, as Clare said, I was now Britain’s most successful Paralympian. It’s a strange title to have, and it’s a title I will probably only hold for one four-year cycle, as there are a couple of swimmers who are on high medal targets and have a couple more Games in them.
    But it is something very nice to hold on to for a while. There is a difference between a gold medal and a record, whether British or world. No one can ever take my medal away from me. It doesn’t matter whether it was a good or bad race. World records are wonderful to hold, but they are transitory. At some point, sooner or later, someone will take them away. So you just enjoy them for a while.
    Leaving Athens was an emotional experience. I had been through so much in two short weeks, and so had my family. I longed to be back in my own house, back training, and back to normality.
    The most important lesson I learnt from this experience was who my true friends in sport were. They were the people who didn’t tell me what to do, but questioned some of the decisions I was taking. They asked me to think about whether I now wanted to retire, and were honest about what they thought I could still achieve in sport. Some thought I should stop, others that I should carry on, but the real friends let me make the decision for myself.
    Those friends have stayed with me throughout the rest of my career. And I have made new ones along the way who offer me the same sensitive advice and support. These are the people whom I trust with the rest of my career.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Making It Happen!
    People are always interested in the details of my life and how I train. Like all athletes I have to look after myself and eat sensibly. On a typical day I’ll have toast or porridge for breakfast, with coffee; a sandwich and fruit for lunch, and pasta or rice in the evening. I’m not the best cook in the world!
    My weakness is probably drinking too much coffee – my favourite is single shot grande caramel latte, from Starbucks. Ian laughs at me a lot because this is one thing that I am really fussy about.
    I train six days a week so I need plenty of sleep and try to get to bed reasonably early.
    People prepare and train in different ways but there are a few fixed realities in sport, which are the same for everyone.
    First, you have a very limited time in which to achieve. You have to be gaining qualifying marks in your late teens or early twenties to be able to qualify for the national teams and then make it to major Games. You cannot go back. In many professions you can take a