Athletics

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius is a major box office draw, having broken world records at 100, 200 and 400m. The 'Blade Runner' became the first double amputee to compete at the Olympic when he reached the semi-finals of the 400m in London. He had initially been barred from competing at the 2008 Olympics after it was decided his prosthetic blades gave him an advantage over able-bodied athletes. This decision was later overturned.

Runners with visual impairments employ super-fit guides joined to them by a rope attached to their wrists. Throwers and jumpers rely on a buzzer or human callers for advice on where they are positioned and when to throw or jump.

Powerful field sports specialist Dick Thompson was the hero for Great Britain when athletics was first introduced at the 1960 Paralympics in Rome, landing four gold medals in club throwing and javelin.

The most successful athlete in the history of the Paralympic Games, Franz Nietlispach, amassed an astonishing 14 gold and six silver medals in wheelchair racing between 1976 and 2008. Now a politician in his native Switzerland, he's also represented his country in table tennis and hand cycling.