Burgeoning track and field athlete Andrew Mathews is set for big things both on and off the athletic arena. A person particularly gifted behind the lens, Andrew has set his sights on becoming a famous photographer. Firstly, though, he has set himself on qualifying for his maiden Paralympic Games at London 2012.

Jake Lappin, hailing from Victoria’s oldest inland town of Kilmore, is quickly making a name for himself in the world of wheelchair racing. He became involved in athletics when he attended a racing-specific training camp and has gone from strength to strength ever since.

Entering his first Paralympic Games at London 2012, guide runner Carl Gustafson is determined to assist Gerrard Gosens on achieving his best.

Building on a fitness base ground in his earlier days as a triathlete, Carl has raced in a series of 10km races in preparation for London 2012. He looks to be in good shape too, highlighted by his eighth place finish in the 2011 Bridge to Brisbane run. Coached by Bruce Jones for the past four years, Carl is based at the Toowong Harriers club.

The guide for blind distance runner Gerard Gosens, Dennis Fitzgerald is hoping his experience from the Beijing Games will shine through at London 2012.

Having united with Gerard at the 2006 World Championships, Dennis later qualified for the Beijing 2008 Games, an experience he rates the highlight of his career to date. Qualifying for the 1500m final in front of 90,000 spectators, Dennis finished sixth in a thrilling race.

Sam Carter’s unrelenting motivation and determination to compete at the Paralympic Games makes him one of wheelchair racing’s most promising youngsters.

Matthew Cameron has always used a wheelchair after being born with popliteal web syndrome, an extremely rare physical disability that doesn’t allow him to stand and has forced him to undergo 25 operations since birth. Despite this, Matthew says he is always up for a challenge and will have a go at any sport. He is particularly gifted at wheelchair racing which saw him compete at his first Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Long jump athlete Thomas Burrows has proved somewhat of a National Championship specialist, winning medals at both Australian Championships he has competed in.

An intellectually impaired competitor, Thomas won bronze in the long jump at the 2009 Nationals, before backing up with the same result in 2010. His impressive jump of 5.89m to win bronze at the 2010 Nationals is the highlight of his career to date.

Damien Bowen is an outgoing young man who loves to have a laugh. But the self-confessed larrikin from Queanbeyan knows when to switch to competition mode. With his sights now set on London and beyond, Damien is training to throw the javelin further than he has ever done before.

A brilliant performer in a wide range of junior athletic events, Nathan Arkley is approaching what promises to be the first of many Paralympic Games at London 2012.

At the age of 15, Nathan burst onto the scene in impressive style, snaring two gold medals and five silvers at the 2009 IWAS Junior World Championships in Switzerland. He again registered an eye catching display at the 2010 Underage National Championships, blitzing the field with four gold medals.

With five sisters, Evan O’Hanlon has always been quick. Involved in athletics at a school level, Evan was encouraged by a PE teacher to explore the possibility of competing as an athlete with a disability. He was linked to a coach through the APC Talent Search Program and has never looked back.

Evan exploded onto the world athletics stage in 2005, immediately creating a name for himself as the next big thing in Paralympic sprinting. On his first ever international tour, he won gold in the 100m and 200m at the 2005 German Nationals and European Championships.