Tom Wald

Can’t run, can’t jump, can swim. And can surprise. Even Jacqueline Freney’s family has been shocked by her haul of seven gold medals in the pool at the London Paralympics.

To get an idea of the decibel levels being reached by fans at the London Paralympics, consider this. Two-time Australian Paralympic swimmer Brenden Hall, who has 30 per cent hearing, had never heard a crowd cheering him on in a pool until this week.

The London Paralympics are set to be a watershed moment for the sporting movement.

There is a moving story behind every Paralympian. There are stomach-churning atrocities such as forced sterilisations to bloody tales of war victims. But few match the sliding doors story of Martine Wright, one of the faces of the London Games starting on Wednesday.