Throughout the Olympics there came again and again the message that the athletes on our screens did not become medal winners overnight, they worked, they strived and they sacrificed to get to their peak.
But our Paralympians, before they even begin gruelling training schedules, often face even more incredible journeys and overcome many obstacles to get to that starting line.
Charlotte Roblin, is not a Paralympian, but has had an insight into those journeys, as like many Paralympians with spinal injuries she started a path to a new life at the Spinal Unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
This month she will appear in the Channel 4 documentary, Best of British, which has followed those preparing to take part in the Games, showing her no less inspiring journey.
A fight for life
Charlotte, now aged 23, was only 21 years old when she suffered a brain haemorrhage, and like many of those who go onto become Paralympians after sustaining traumatic injuries, her fight started with a fight for her life.
“I had a brain haemorrhage in March 2010. I had just started a new job in lettings two weeks before and I was living with my parents in Moulton. I had been complaining of headaches throughout the week and did have a feeling something was wrong but I never expected it to be as serious as it was.
“I remember a weird aching in my neck before but then nothing.”
Charlotte was told she very nearly died, and although she survived she was left with a lot to overcome.
“For nine months I lost my short-term memory and there are a lot of things I don’t remember. I do remember a splitting headache and things like getting an MRI scan, friend’s visits, being transferred to Kettering hospital,” said Charlotte.
In addition to struggling with her memory Charlotte also temporarily lost the sight in her left eye.
“That was pretty awful. I always took my sight for granted before and that was frightening.”
Charlotte’s sight did return and she continued to improve, both returning to work part-time and regaining her driving licence. Charlotte felt she had regained her freedom, but in November 2010 she suffered a further set-back.
Set-backs
“Something changed with my legs and I felt like I was dragging them along as I walked,” said Charlotte who was diagnosed with a rare condition called arachnoiditis.
“They did some tests, but they didn’t find anything, then my mum said something’s not right I’m taking you back to the John Radcliffe Hospital.
“I didn’t understand how my walking could be connected to my brain injury. They found my spinal cord was scarred. I was told I had the choice of having surgery, but if they didn’t carry it out, I was told there was a risk that I could become a tetraplegic, so I had to have a laminectomy, where they removed some vertebrae from the spine.
“I had the surgery on my 22nd birthday and then in the New Year I deteriorated and they had to do more surgery. During this time I suffered incredible pain and afterwards I had to walk with a Zimmer frame. Then three or four months later it got worse until I couldn’t walk at all. It was in July 2011 that I went to Stoke Mandeville Hospital.”
TV cameras
“While I was there they were filming a documentary on the Paralympics. I said I didn’t want to be in it. Then I got friendly with some of the people involved and somehow I became one of the three main people they focused on.
“My slot on the programme shows how ordinary people cope with similar problems to Paralympians,” said Charlotte. “I’m never going to be in the Paralympics but I hope that by showing my journey, I can give people some perspective into the journey that most people with a spinal injury start with.
“It starts with first having to learn normal things like how to dress, how to shower and how to go to the toilet.
“It is learning to do the simple things that can be the hardest things of all, people don’t just become Paralympians, they have to start from the beginning again first, and that’s what makes what they achieve even more special.
“That’s why I am so much in awe of what they do, because I know how hard that journey is. Some are born with their disabilities and some are injured, but no matter what, what they do is amazing.”
While filming was taking place Charlotte went through another operation to help her walk again.
“They filmed my operation, which people will see in the programme. I thought it might be hard to watch that but it wasn’t. They put a shunt in my spine and I found it interesting more than anything.”
Charlotte is still restricted to a wheelchair but has now regained all feeling in her legs and is working towards walking again.
The future
“I have lost a lot of things and got them back, my hair at one point, my sight, but the thought of losing the ability to walk is something I have really struggled with. But I am determined to walk again.
“When I was at Stoke Mandeville I was with people who never will, and I was really inspired with the strength they showed in dealing with that.
“I do one hour with a physio once a month and I have to work on my core strength,” said Charlotte, who now lives independently in The Headlands, Northampton, and also works as a volunteer for a group working with people with learning difficulties at The Cube, Northampton.
“What is so good about Stoke Mandeville is they do help you, but most of all they make you help yourself, and I know I will walk again, even though I am going to have to work hard,” said Charlotte.
“When people see my personal journey, they will see me cry, see me think about future relationships, and what I will do with my life.
“There are times when I have felt really down, when I have felt that I was never going to get better. I think the programme might surprise people who know me. I’m always very controlled, if I was sad I cried alone.
“What has happened to me has completely changed my outlook on life. I really want to return to my former job at Belvoir Lettings, because they’ve been really supportive, but I also want to continue to volunteer to help others. I also want to raise more awareness about people with disabilities.
“When you are in a wheelchair sometimes people do stare and treat you differently. I hope people watch the program really think about how they treat people with disabilities. I’m a normal 23-year-old, I’m just sat down.”
Charlotte’s on The Best of British on Channel 4 on Tuesday, August 21 at 11.05pm.