A SWIMMING coach who helped a disabled boy realise his potential to go on and win seven Paralympic medals was reunited with him at a special event.
Giles Long MBE came face-to-face with his old coach Mike Gosling at a Greenfield housing event in Earls Colne, celebrating the difference its volunteers make to the lives of local people.
Mike, 57, who works at Greenfields House in Braintree but coached Giles at Braintree and Bocking Swimming Club, said: "I coached Giles from when he was about 12, and then again following his accident from 1991 to 1996. Giles is an inspiration to many people, as he has proved that you can still realise your dreams even if your circumstances changed dramatically. I am very proud to see how far he's come."
Giles developed a bone tumour in his arm when he was 13 after a serious break to his arm.
He spent years coming to terms with his disability before realising, thanks to the help and support of people like Mike, that he still had the ability to represent Great Britain.
He went on to win seven medals at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Paralympics, including three golds.
Giles said: "When I was originally approached by the head coach of the Moscow 1980 swimming team in 1992 and asked if I wanted to train for the Paralympics, I said 'no'."
"It took me a long time to accept my disability and to concentrate on what I could do, rather than couldn't. I eventually won my first gold medal at Atlanta in 1996, but nothing could top the feeling of winning gold in a world record time in Sydney, beating my original time in Atlanta."
