John McFall is hoping to win a Paralympic medal in Beijing

Welsh athletes will make up almost a quarter of the British Paralympic track and field squad for Beijing.

Eight out of the 35-strong team, nominated by UK Athletics, are from Wales.

And of those eight, four are first-time Paralympians, an achievement attributed to the Disability Talent Academy formed after the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Academy manager Gerwyn Owen said: "This carries on the great tradition of Welsh involvement in the Paralympics."

Among the first-time competitors is 16-year-old Rebecca Chin from Deganwy who is believed to be Wales' youngest Paralympian.

Chin, who competes in the shot and discuss, is currently fitting in her training around her studies as she takes her GCSE exams.

And she admits the news she had been nominated was very unexpected: "I was just really shocked. I didn't even think I was a possibility for Beijing.

"When I got the call I was like 'Whoa!' my heart stopped I was so surprised."

Chin shares the same coach - John Parkin - as Welsh Paralympic veteran Beverly Jones from Queensferry who has also been nominated for the Beijing team.

For Jones this year's games will be her third after competing in both Sydney and Athens.

And the 33-year-old, who competes in the shot and the discuss, will be hoping that it is a case of third time lucky as she has finished just outside the medal positions in both games.

Beverly Jones is set to compete in her third Paralympics

Another 'veteran' competitor at this year's Paralympics is 37-year-old track athlete Tracey Hinton who is taking part in her fifth games.

Hinton, who is blind, competes in the 200, 400 and 800m runs with her guide Steffan Hughes.

World-record holder Hinton, who is trained by Darryl Maynard, is hoping to add to her impressive medal haul

And Maynard also trains another of the athletes nominated, sprinter John McFall.

The Cardiff-based McFall is aiming to add a Paralympic gold to the gold and silver medals he won at last year's World Championships.

An amazing achievement when you consider that at the time of the last games he had only just started competing.

"This time four years ago I think I had just had my first competition as a disabled athlete. Things certainly have moved on at pace since then," said the 26-year-old.

And now he has a podium finish in his sights: "I set myself a goal of getting a medal in Beijing and if I can fulfil my potential it is very realistic prospect, so that's my hope."

Joining McFall in the nomination list is Nathan Stephens from Kenfig Hill.

The 20-year-old student is no stranger to the Paralympics having already competed for the Great Britain sledge hockey team at the Turin winter games in 2006.

Stephen's will compete in the shot, the discuss and the javelin in Beijing and is currently ranked number two in the world in all three events.

Also expected to be included in the team is Brian Alldis from Cardiff.

The 19-year-old, who competes in events from the 800, 1500, 5000m and the marathon, is coached by Welsh Paralympic legend Dame Tanni Grey Thompson.

The final Welsh athlete included in the nominations is 20-year-old discus thrower Claire Williams from Carmarthen.

This will be Williams second games having been the youngest member of the GB athletics team in Athens.