Going into the 2004 Athens Paralympics, I really felt the pressure of being the favourite for the 800m.

My event was late on in the programme and it was tough to see my team-mates come and go; some jubilant and others who feel their world has just fallen apart and all the time knowing your race is approaching.

My heat was at 9am and when I came out onto the track the stadium was fairly empty apart from a big group of my family and friends on the bend at the start/finish line.

They all had flags and had their faces painted and, to be honest, it was difficult for me to hold it together but I did what I had to do and qualified.

The heats can be worse because it's bad enough not to win a medal, it is worse not to get through the heats.

Before the final, my coach Ayo Falola was at the warm-up track. We went for a walk around the track and all he said was: "Dan, you know what to do".

He was right. I knew what I had to do. It was my day. I was so focussed and nothing could interfere with what I had to do.