“I've taken my opportunities to prove people wrong and I'm an elite athlete, so you should never let people decide for you what you can and can't do.” – Hannah’s willpower has made her a five-time Paralympic gold medalist. She uses a wheelchair due to leg and hip deformities brought on by after-birth cardiac arrests. Hannah had been steered away from sports during her primary education because of preconceptions and only started participating in sports while in secondary school with swimming, seated discus and wheelchair basketball. She was fifteen when she eventually found her true passion in wheelchair racing. There was no looking back and she has gone on to represent Great Britain at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Paralympics claiming world and Paralympic wheelchair racing records in several events ranging from 100 to 1500 meters. Hannah’s other honors include the Freedom of the Borough of Calderdale and being appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

How and when did you decide to take on wheelchair racing?H: I took up wheelchair racing in 2007 when I was 15 years old. I was at a come and try day with British Athletics at Loughborough University when I first saw the sport. I instantly fell in love with wheelchair racing, I loved the speed and freedom and have never looked back since!

What is your most memorable championship and why?H: My most memorable Championships was probably the London 2012 Paralympic Games. It was my first Paralympic Games and in front of a home crowd, so it is something I will never forget. The noise when I was out on the track was deafening and the support was monumental. London 2012 changed the way people viewed disabled people and disabled sports and was the biggest Paralympic Games ever, it was an honour to be a part of it.

What are the key initiatives needed to increase disability awareness?H: I think a main initiative needed to increase disability awareness is to educate people about disability and how different each disability is. It's damaging to have the same false narratives put out into the World through TV programmes and stories, that sell us as inspirational, useless characters. Disabled people all have their own unique qualities and for people to recognise these, they need to see the person, not the stereotype we're told to see. Once we start seeing disabled people as individuals, then we can start to make change.

What challenges did you face during your school days? How did you motivate yourself to face those challenges?H: My biggest challenge was surprisingly, sport! It was the one and only thing I was always turned away from and told I couldn't do, from PE lessons to extra- curricular activities. I threw myself into the arts instead, taking singing lessons, learning the violin, singing in a choir, so I just filled my time with other things. But now, I've taken my opportunities to prove people wrong and I'm an elite athlete, so you should never let people decide for you what you can and can't do.

What are your other hobbies?H: I don't really have much time for other hobbies! If i'm not training, I'm usually answering emails or tidying the house, really nothing interesting at all! I like to go to the cinema, and I love shopping, but other than that, just resting and waiting for my next race!

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?H: My favourite place to visit is my home in Yorkshire, it's where I grew up and it's the most beautiful place. So much green land and freedom, it always takes my breath away when I go home. I feel lucky to call it home.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?H: Encourage them to take every opportunity! Don't just take someone's word and accept what they can't do, if they want to try it, let them and let your child make their own decisions. Listen to them and let them use their own voice, only use your voice to strengthen what they are calling for.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who are interested in sports?H: The same as above really- take every opportunity! If a chance comes up to try a sport, just take it and if you don't love it, you'll learn from it. I only found wheelchair racing through trial and error of trying lots of other sports, and eventually I found the one I love. It doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy any of the sports that I tried out before my own, I just connected with wheelchair racing the most.

Any special message for our community?H: I think right now, more than ever, we just need to support each other. Listen and be kind.