With a Paralympic bronze medal already in the bag, Jayme Paris has her sights set on gold in the 500m time trial and a medal of any colour in the 3000m individual pursuit in London.

For the girl from Sydney’s west, it’s hard to believe it wasn’t until she was 11 years old that she took the training wheels off her bike. And after hearing a Paralympic female cyclist call for more girls to take up the sport during a TV interview, she decided to give cycling a go.

In 2005 Jayme was talent spotted at an APC Talent Search day and although her progress was slow to begin with, after much persistence she was chosen for the NSW team at the 2006 National Championships where she cycled her way to a silver medal.

The following year, Jayme won two gold medals at Nationals and broke the world record for the 500m time trial. However because her classification was yet to be internationally recognised, she had to wait until the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships later that year, where she again broke the world record, to call herself a world record holder.

After her 500m time trial Paralympic bronze, Jayme’s progress continued, winning silver in the same event at the 2009 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships. In 2010, Jayme extended her racing repertoire to road racing and since being reclassified, has posted several impressive times at the 2010 and 2011 Para-cycling Road World Cups and World Championships as well as on the track.

Jayme says the secret to her success is eating strong cheese and mousse on the morning of competition but overriding that is her commitment to Paralympic cycling and educating others about the Paralympic movement.

Jayme is a keen public speaker and currently volunteers at swim meets for people with a disability. She is hoping to one day work as a teacher’s aid with children with a disability.