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13 Questions: GB Paralympic shooter, Di Coates

Emma Emma | 09:26 UK time, Tuesday, 24 July 2012

GB Paralympic shooter Di Coates

The GB Paralympic team has athletes from a wide age range. There is around 50 years difference between the oldest and youngest. Last week we spoke to swimmer Amy Marren, one of the younger members of the squad at just 13. At the other end of the scale, Di Coates is the second to eldest; she also holds the mantle of Britain's most experienced Paralympian.

The 58-year-old from Hampshire will be competing in her eighth Paralympics in London, having made her debut in 1984 in Stoke Mandeville; she is the only member of the GB team to have previously competed in a home Games.

Di has won eight Paralympic medals over her career, including three golds, and is part of a 12-strong GB shooting team. Here she answers our 13 probing questions.

My earliest memory is ...
The 1984 Paralympic Games. I can't remember much before shooting - it's all I seem to have done!

The three words I'd use to describe myself are ...
Shy and retiring.

A little known fact about me is ...
I like working with children.

Given half a chance I'd relish the opportunity to bore you stupid about ...
Shooting.

I can't resist ...
a nice glass of rosé wine after a big competition.

During my time off I ...
Relax, have a nice meal with friends, good old English food.

Before I die I want to ...
Visit Japan.

If I suddenly became able bodied I would ...
Climb Snowdon.

My ideal dinner guest would be ...
Tom Selleck.

My first job was ...
In the accounts department of a company called Marconi.

Competing at London 2012 will be ...
Very exciting, the pinnacle of my career and the culmination of four years of hard work.

To win a medal would be...
Absolutely wonderful. I won medals in Sydney, Atlanta, Seoul and Barcelona but winning a medal in your home country, in front of a home crowd, would be something special.

For disabled people in the UK, London 2012 will be...
Good for the country to recognise disabled people and will show non-disabled people what we can do. Hopefully it will help towards a change in attitudes.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    This being a disability website, it would be reasonable to include some specifics such as: what is Di's disability, what classification does she compete under ? I don't want her Xrays, or to invade her privacy, just some context.

  • Comment number 2.

    Great going Di You have an eviable track record of Paralympic appearances and hop you have many more. What an inspiration to all the newcomers to the games.

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