Cameron recalls Simmonds gold in Conference speech

The PM was sat with the ParalympicsGB team during the session and punched the air as Simmonds broke her world record for the second time that day to seal her second gold of the Games.

And, speaking at the Conservative Party Conference, Mr Cameron admitted Simmonds, and the rest of the ParalympicsGB team, had hugely influenced changing attitudes towards disability in the country.

“I was trying to think of my favourite moment [of the Games],” said Cameron.

“Was it telling President Hollande that no, we hadn’t cheated at the cycling, we didn’t have rounder wheels, it was just that we peddled faster than the French?

“No… for me it was seeing that young woman who swam her heart out for years… nine training sessions a week, two hours a time.

“My best moment was putting that gold medal around the neck of Ellie Simmonds. And I am so grateful for what all those Paralympians did.

“When I used to push my son Ivan around in his wheelchair, I always thought that some people saw the wheelchair, not the boy.

“Today more people would see the boy and not the wheelchair – and that’s because of what happened here this summer.”

British Swimming are supporting Ellie Simmonds to be nominated as Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year – to find out more and nominate Ellie, click here.