Cereal killer

Swimmer Sam Hynd is heading to his first Paralympic Games. Sam, 17, is one of ten young elite athletes who have received funding from Kellogg’s to provide training. Sam will be contesting the 50m, 100m and 400m freestyle in China, along with the 100m breaststroke and 200m individual medley.

What is the best thing about being disabled?

It’s given me a lot more determination than most people, and that makes me want to succeed even more. Knowing that you have something more to overcome to succeed, it makes you a greater person.

What makes you angry?

The inequality between disabled and non-disabled people.

What’s the stupidest thing anyone has ever said to you about your impairment?

If I’m not in the pool most people wouldn’t recognise it. I walk with a limp but most people don’t really notice.

Which disabled person do you most admire?

Everyone on the Paralympic team, especially the swimming team, because of how determined they are and what they’ve accomplished. They’re having to get to the top of their chosen sport, as well as having to overcome the barriers of being disabled.

Sum up your personality in ten words or less

Determined, modest, chilled out and tough.

If you became Prime Minister, name one thing you would do to help disabled people

Anything that would raise the profile of disabled sport. Some of the able-bodied athletes have got MBEs and OBEs. I’m not saying that they haven’t achieved amazing things, but there are disability athletes out there who have won so many medals who haven’t been recognised or even got a pat on the back. Anything that would raise that higher.

What do you like most about your job?

The places I see. I get to travel quite a bit. Even though I have to get up early, I love it. It never feels like a chore, because I love sport. Also, all of the people I know and have got to meet through swimming. So really, the places, people, fitness levels and the life skills it’s given me.

And what do you not like about it?

Getting up in the morning is pretty hard – I get up at half-five and I’m in the pool at six. When it’s cold and wet outside, it’s not good, but when you realise what you can win and what you can get out of it, it makes it all worthwhile. That again comes from the determination I have.

What is the one thing that could be invented to make your life as a disabled person easier?

Some kind of hovercraft wheelchair. I use a wheelchair sometimes, and kerbs and pavements make it ever so hard to get around.

What is your most surprising hidden talent?

I’m fairly musical, but I don’t get much chance to practice because of the swimming. I can play the guitar and the piano. I also studied music theory and got to grade four.