Emma Wiggs, Chichester

How did you get started?

"As a child I was always into sport, from hockey and netball to kayaking and surfing," says Emma. The Chichester-based athlete developed the rare Guillain-Barré syndrome in her late twenties, an autoimmune disease that can lead to paralysis of the legs. Emma did not let her condition stop her from playing and enjoying sport, however, and with friends' encouragement she attended a British Paralympic Association Talent ID Day at the University of Brunel in January 2010. "I was lucky enough to be identified as having potential talent in five sports," she says. "Having always loved team sports I chose sitting volleyball and attended a training camp within two weeks. Since then my life has changed beyond all recognition." At the age of 32, Emma heads up ParalympicsGB sitting volleyball team as captain. She is lucky enough to have a sympathetic employer, The Regis School in Bognor, which has supported Emma on her journey to the Paralympics.

Greatest achievements

2010 Harpers International, second

2010 WOVD World Championships, bronze

Prospects for 2012

The women's squad came sixth in the Continental Cup in Ukraine and seventh in the Europeans last year. London 2012 will be their debut Paralympics and despite automatic top seeding as the host nation, GB will have their work cut out against defending champions China, 2008 runners up USA and European champions Ukraine, who they face in their first group game. Women's preliminaries 30 August – 3 September. Semis 4-5 September. Finals 6-7 September

http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/sitting-volleyball/about/

Twitter: @emwiggsy