Having only begun cycling in 2010, it hasn’t taken Brandie O’Connor long to prove dominant in her adopted sport. Previously a national team rower at the 2008 World Cup in Munich, the multi-talented athlete has achieved a black belt level in taekwondo and numerous trophies and ribbons as a child pony club rider.

But it was cycling that has set Brandie on course towards the Paralympics. Debuting for Australia at the 2010 Road World Championships in Canada, she won three national titles in the same year, marking herself as a cyclist of serious ability.

Sarah Vinci made her charge into the Gliders team at just the right time and was part of the silver medal winning team at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The talented youngster came onto the international scene in 2011 and has quickly become part a regular fixture in the Gliders line-up.

The West Australian made her debut for Australia at the 2011 Osaka Cup in Japan, winning a silver medal on her first international trip. She was later selected in the Australian under 25s team that competed in the inaugural U/25 Women’s World Wheelchair Championships.

Setting his sights on competing at his first Paralympic Games at London 2012, Shawn Russell is one very determined individual.

Shawn was born with a defect leg and had his leg amputated when he was 16. While recovering in hospital, wheelchair basketballer Eino Okkonen paid him a visit, encouraging the teenager to give wheelchair basketball a try. While initially reluctant, Shawn was eventually convinced and attended a Wollongong Roller Hawks training session. He was hooked.

Among the up-and-coming rising stars of wheelchair basketball in Australia, John McPhail has fast proved a vital cog in the Rollers’ all conquering team.

A car accident when John was 12 months old left him a paraplegic. Having initially tried a number of different sports, John quickly developed a fondness for wheelchair basketball because he felt it was the sport that provided the greatest challenge.

For Leanne Del Toso, basketball comes naturally. The proud Melbournian played able-bodied basketball throughout her childhood before suffering from a neurological condition that reduced mobility in her legs. She was forced to give basketball away at the age of 19 after she was unable to run and jump.

Wheelchair basketball was the vehicle through which Leanne was able to return to the sport. She was working at a local gym and noticed a flyer on the wall about a Paralympic Talent Search day and the rest is history.

After coming within a whisker of making the Australian team for Beijing 2008, wheelchair basketball player Bill Latham was over the moon to make the national team for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Seen as the heir apparent to long time Rollers big men Brad Ness and Justin Eveson, Bill is an imposing force on the court and contributed a sizeable 27 points during the London campaign, where the team won silver after losing to Canada in the gold medal match.

Amber Merritt is one of the emerging stars of the Australian line up and was the second highest point scorer at her debut Games in London, where the team won a silver medal. Having firmly established herself in the Gliders team as a teenager, Amber looks set to enjoy a long and distinguished career with the national team.

The West Australian starred at the 2011 U/25 World Championships, playing a critical role in Australia winning a silver medal. She top scored in Australia’s 60-47 semi-final victory over Canada, scoring 25 points to go with her 11 rebounds.

Unbeaten in seven years at the National Handcycling Championships, Nigel Barley put his winning nature to the test at his first Paralympic Games in London and was successful, snatching a silver medal in the hand-cycling time trial. It was the first Paralympic medal Australia had ever won in hand-cycling.

When Claire McLean was 19, she was involved in a motorbike accident which left her with a paralysed arm. While it took some time to adjust to life with one working arm, she decided to focus on her passion for cycling and hasn’t looked back since.

Having already developed a fondness for the sport after watching the cycling at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Claire felt it was only natural she start training and competing and didn’t waste any time making her presence felt on the track and road.

Having entered the 2012 UCI Para-cycling World Track Championships without much fanfare, Simone Kennedy produced one of the most remarkable international debuts in recent history. The Sydney-based track star stunned her competition in Los Angeles, winning gold medals in the 500m time trial and 3km individual pursuit, announcing herself as a track cycling star.