Sprinter John McFall based in Cardiff is one of the 36 athletes due to represent GB at the Paralympics in September. Over the next few months, www.ukathletics.net will be the first to hear about John’s preparations in an exclusive online diary

Part 1 – The day after the team announcement

Following my motorbike accident in 2000, I taught myself to run with a prosthetic limb in 2002 and gradually did more; six years on I’m ready for my first Paralympic Games.

I started training with Swansea Harriers, but I didn’t have a sprinting prosthesis – my ‘day’ leg wasn’t really effective – the leg would break, in fact the hydraulic cylinder used to explode and fluid would spill on to the track.

So, I went to my Prosthestist and asked what I could do in 2003. He suggested that they could make me a sprinting prosthesis, paid for by the NHS. As an amputee you have an everyday leg that I call my ‘day’ leg and there is an option of getting a second limb for another activity like running. I went back to finish my Final year at University in Swansea in September 2003 and started training more at Swansea Harriers.

Actually before then, If I go back a step to April 2003, when I was wondering if there was any point pursuing my running, I contacted Disability Sport Wales for some advice. I went to Cardiff one evening and demonstrated what level I was at, running on the track. It was Anthony Hughes (coach to seated throws athlete Nathan Stephens now) who saw me run, his exact words were unrepeatable but basically said if I could get the right prosthesis then I could be ***** amazing!

One step at a time

It was just one step at a time really. My first competitions as an amputee were in 2004, I had one in Germany and another in Belgium, Disability Sport Wales helped me out, they organised my competitions. My first event in the UK was the DSE Championships in 2004.

Later that year, I was fortunate enough to go to the Paralympics in Athens with Disability Sport Wales, I had just finished my degree in Sport & Exercise Science so I combined my academic work and interest as an athlete, I really benefited from the first hand experience. I remember watching the final of the 100m, of what is now my event. I knew some of the competitors from Germany, France and Italy. There were no British athletes.