By the start of 2008 things were going really well and I was probably in the best shape of my life as I prepared for the Beijing Paralympics. Then my injury problems started.

I went to the physio with a sore back and they found I had a small tear in one of my discs. Then I damaged my calf and I also had Achilles problems which meant I couldn't run.

I always believed I would get to the starting line in Beijing but the closer it got the tougher it became.

By July I was able to start running again and from then on I progressed well and I did two races but by the second one it restarted the problems.

By the time I got to the holding camp in Macau I was unable to run again and although it was tough, I had to keep on believing that I would make it.

The fact that I knew that I was in line to be the Great Britain team flag bearer at the opening ceremony, which is a massive honour, kept me going.

I knew if I had given up and gone home then I wouldn't have had that opportunity.