Quotes from Ellie Simmonds

Watching Nyree Lewis get her medal in the 100 backstroke inspired me to want to go to a Paralympics and it just went on from there.

I'm a Scouts ambassador and I help out with dwarf sports.

I lived in Swansea Marina and was a minute's walk from the beach. I used to love going to Mumbles and visiting Gower with its fantastic beaches like Langland, Oxwich and Caswell.

Saturday is usually my social day to go out with my friends for food or shopping.

The whole nation thinks I should be winning, winning, winning all the time and that's a lot to take on my shoulders.

I think it's really important to show people that there's nothing different about us; especially as athletes - we train as hard as the Olympians.

Everyone saw me cry with happiness after I won the Beijing medals. It's really embarrassing.

Coming into London having the experience of Beijing is really good.

When I was in Beijing, London, and also in Rio I was still a kid really, I didn't feel pressure.

In Beijing the emotion built and built. I was at a Paralympics and I was so nervous. When I achieved my goal all that emotion came out.

Going into Beijing I was like 'what's a Paralympics?'

You're never going to lose your sport. It's like riding a bike to be honest.

Having all that experience, and that success as well, at a Paralympics was just amazing but I don't really remember much from Beijing, it was quite a blur.

Sunday is my day of rest, which usually includes a lie-in, a pyjama day or just being with my family.

Being at home gives me such a big buzz and just makes me want to perform.

It's hard to stay at the top. There's a cheesy saying isn't there: it's easy to get to the top but once you're there it's harder to stay there, and I'm fully aware of that.

My school have been so supportive in the balance between my sport and my studying, ever since I won the two golds in Beijing.

It can feel a bit surreal. Sometimes you're talking to famous people and you think, 'Oh gosh, I'm talking to Lewis Hamilton.'

I like Drake, I like Rihanna, I like Beyonce, I like Mumford and Sons, and Coldplay.

I didn't just swim when I was younger. I did ballet, horse riding, everything. I was very active.

A lot of the time, when I swim, I close my eyes because it is definitely lonely.

It drives me forward knowing people are watching me and I have to swim well.

I learnt to swim at the age of four or five. My parents took me to a club where you go from learning to swim to competing.

I'm just going into London to enjoy it as much as I can. Enjoy the experience and just swim the best that I can on the day.