Sam McIntosh’s life changed dramatically in 2007 when he fell off a BMX bike whilst on holiday with his family in Coffs Harbour. The accident broke Sam’s neck and he became a quadriplegic.

While recovering in hospital, the thrill-seeking boy from Geelong immediately drew inspiration from stunt men he saw performing back flips in their wheelchairs and turned his attention to wheelchair rugby. However, a chance encounter with Kaye Colman, the mother of Paralympic gold medallist Richard Colman, directed Sam down the path of wheelchair racing.

After taking up running at the end of 2009, Western Australia’s Sam Harding is in good company, training with the likes of Beijing Paralympians Evan O’Hanlon, Michael Roeger and Brad Scott under the strict guidance of Paralympic track coach Iryna Dvoskina at the AIS in Canberra.

Sam has a rare hereditary eye disease called Choroideremia, which has deteriorated most of his peripheral vision.

From the tiny Queensland settlement of Pilton, south of Toowoomba, Nicole Vernon grew up on a cattle farm in what she describes as “the middle of nowhere.” When she was 14, to pass time she tried out for the Darling Downs Athletics Club and quickly learnt not only did she have talent in field events, but she was developing a passion for it.

Scott Reardon grew up on his family’s property near Canberra with a love for running and water skiing. The talented athlete has now represented his country with distinction in both sports.

In 2002 Scott got his shoelace caught in the power take off shaft of a tractor and severed his right leg through the knee. He spent a month in hospital recovering and amazed doctors by relearning to walk in just one week. Scott continued to water-ski on one leg, representing Australia three times at the Water-Skiing World Championships and winning the world title twice in 2007 and 2009.

Less than a year after he first competed professionally in athletics, Simon Patmore exploded onto the international racing scene at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games to win the T46 100m gold medal.

Born with erbs palsy which limits the movement in his left arm, Simon has always been a keen sportsman and grew up playing club rugby union, soccer and cricket. It wasn’t until his school teachers encouraged him to try athletics and cross-country running that his focus turned to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Nicole Esdaile describes herself as passionate, determined and friendly. Living in Brisbane with her husband Michael Sheppard, a fellow goalball player and member of the Australian men’s team, Nicole describes getting married as the scariest but most exciting thing that she has ever done.

She also laughs when she remembers her husband asking why she was walking back down the aisle strangely and promptly and loudly telling him it was because he kept standing on her dress.

In 1972, Libby Kosmala headed to Heidelberg, Germany to compete at her first ever Paralympic Games. Now forty years later, the oldest member of the Australian team is set to head to London for her last. Among the most respected figures in the history of Paralympic sport, you could call Libby Kosmala a superwoman. Not only has she successfully raised two sons and supported a gold medallist husband, but is a Paralympic gold medallist herself.

At the age of 22, Jason Maroney was involved in a severe car accident that left him a quadriplegic. As a country boy familiar with shooting, he took up the sport and his passion soon grew.

After losing his leg at the age of nine to cancer and then losing a lung at 11, Tristan Knowles has carved out a decorated wheelchair basketball career in Australia and abroad.

Describing himself as determined, approachable and cheeky, Tige Simmons believes in living life to the full. When not working as a marketing coordinator for Tourism Queensland, Tige definitely enjoys the outdoors. He enjoys tennis, music, sit down water-skiing and trick water-skiing, for which he has won a gold medal at the Australian National Titles.