Quotes from Ellie Simmonds

When I bake, I give it to people because when I'm full-time training, I have to really watch what I eat.

My plan of going to Tokyo has gone out of the window, but I was able to spend three to four months with my family and I've never been able to do that before.

I don't watch my Rio races back. I'll look at my London 2012 races a lot. But not Rio.

Our parents were very generous, and they always encouraged us to find something we enjoyed and really get into it.

I've achieved my dream of getting a Paralympic gold medal and I'm very lucky that I've been to three Games where I've come away with five gold medals.

I think there are definitely times when I feel the expectations on my shoulders and I think it's because even before I race people expect me to get a gold medal and it's not the case.

I recently met Michael Phelps. He is my absolute idol. I was totally starstruck. I did manage to get a few words out.

I hated Rio and I hated everything about it.

The highlight of my career was London 2012.

I want to go to the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2020 so that's my aim in sport, but what do I want to do after I retire? Do I want to do a normal job? I would like to become a primary school teacher but... it will be totally different.

Growing up, most of our family holidays were staycations in the U.K.

I feel really honoured to be in the Walk of Fame in Birmingham with so many great people already like Ozzy Osbourne.

I have grown up in a positive household.

Sometimes I'll get reminded that I promote Paralympic sport and Paralympics GB. Yes, I have a role but I don't feel like an idol.

I spoke to my parents and my agent a year before Rio. I was like: 'I don't want to do this. I want to get away.' They said: 'Just grit your teeth for a year. Then you can have your break. And if you want to retire, you can retire then.' I was in tears. I just hated it.

We had a trampoline in the garden that I used to play on lots which was great exercise.

When I was on the podium singing the national anthem, and the crowd were all singing it, it was definitely... It was a moment to remember, and I'm going to remember it for the rest of my life.

I wear adult sizes but chop off the arms and legs.

I'm OK travelling, meeting people, seeing the world with my own eyes.

I'm studying psychology at Loughborough and there are so many sportspeople here - you actually see top athletes walking around - but people see them all the time, so there's no special treatment.

I don't see it as a disability. I'm just a normal person, but a bit smaller than everyone else.

I would have loved to sneak off and watch some of the horse events at the Paralympics and I know Lee Pearson, who's the Olympic gold medallist in para-equestrianism, but because I was competing in the pool I had to watch it on TV.

If you've got a disabilty you're normal, it's just something that's different.

I've swum with dolphins in Mozambique and with bull sharks off Mexico. They didn't tell me how dangerous the sharks were until after I got out.