Sport: Wheelchair athletics

Brief career description: Eight-time winner of the Boston Marathon… First wheelchair racer to break 1h20min for the marathon… World best time for the marathon of 1:18.27 (2004)… 2006 Recipient of the Laureus Sports Star of the Year… Multiple Paralympics and World Championship medallist

Your favourite sports moment: Going under 1h20min for the marathon

Your biggest sporting disappointment: Failing to win the Boston Narathon in 2007

Your biggest sporting ambition: To win a double gold for cycling in the road race and time trial at the 2012 Paralympics

What do the Olympics and Paralympics mean to you? It’s an international celebration of sport and the highest achievement any athlete can aspire to

Where do you live? Paarl

Do you have a day job? Senior manager of Sport Performance at Stellenbosch Sport Performance Institute

Did you grow up with a role model? If so, who? The cyclist Lance Armstrong

How many hours a day requires training? Between three and five

What special diet is followed, if any? None.

Do you have a motto? If so, what? Never give up.

What is the best sports book or movie that you have read or watched? Favourite sport movie is Rocky 4, favourite book is ‘It’s Not About The Bike’