In 1994 when he was just 24-years-old, Stuart Tripp was involved in a car accident that changed his life. After weeks in a coma, he woke to discover his right leg had been amputated; he had head trauma and his kidney were failing. On what was at times an emotional physical journey of recovery, Stuart took up hand-cycling and channelled all of his positive energy into the sport.

He describes his greatest sporting moment as getting back on his bike after crashing at the 2011 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships and finishing in eighth place. Now headed to his first Paralympic Games as one of two hand-cyclists on the team, Stuart is confident these Games will be the beginning of a promising career, one in which he hopes to win multiple Paralympic medals.

A jack of all trades, Stuart is a qualified plumber and also has degrees in science and adult learning and development. He also wrote his own book about his struggles and his journey through life which was published in 2007. He focuses on the importance of the journey rather than the finishing point, and highlights writing as an outlet for recovery.

To prepare himself for a day of competition, Stuart listens to his wedding playlist on the way there, citing his wife as the most influential person in his life. His ultimate goal is simple yet inspiring – to win.