Hynd (pictured above and below) will be one of 50 Torchbearers selected by the IPC to take part, along with a further 530 individuals who will be involved in taking the Torch to the Olympic Stadium for the Paralympic Opening Ceremony on August 29.

"At first I thought it was a hoax when I found out I was going to carry the Paralympic Torch, but then I felt a feeling of shock, disbelief and delight when it started to sink in," the 49-year-old from Nottinghamshire said.

"I feel very humble to be chosen, and believe when I get to run I'll feel a great sense of pride for everyone involved in the Paralympic Movement, from the IPC to the hundreds and hundreds of Paralympic athletes throughout the world who will be competing in London.

"The Torch is a mark of those athletes' talents, and it's such an honour to be involved and part of something so special."


Helen Hynd has endured years of 5am starts to help her sons get to training so they could make it to the Paralympics, and this is why the IPC chose to recognise her.

Sam will be the defending 400 metre freestyle champion after he set a world record on his way to gold in Beijing four years ago in a time of 4min 26.25sec.

The 21-year-old has since broken that record again to 4:26.08, and also picked up a gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the World Championships two years' ago.

Oliver, like Sam an S8 swimmer, was beaten by Sam at the European Championships last year, on his international debut.

However, he claimed silver in the 400m freestyle at the age of just 17, and went on to win in the 200m individual medley with a new European record time of 2:25.75.

"I remember when Ollie passed all his swimming honours aged eight, he was saying to Sam, 'I beat you as you were nine when you passed yours', and since then they've grown even more competitive against each other," Helen added.

"Seeing both of them compete in London will fill me with enormous pride because they will be going head to head, and, I know in my heart, it's most likely for gold.

"It's going to be very emotional for me and my husband.

"We can't control the races and naturally I wish both could win gold in the same race as they are equally talented.

"We'll certainly be shouting and rooting for both as part of Team Hynd.

"I get really excited when I think about London and I visualise them both swimming in the pool, but I also get really, really nervous."

Both Sam and Oliver praised their mother and expressed their pride that she was chosen by the IPC.

"I'm extremely proud of my mum for her involvement in the Torch Relay, especially considering the time and effort both her and dad have put my swimming career as well as Ollie's," Sam (pictured below, left) said.

"I think it is great news the IPC has chosen her to be a Torchbearer and hope she loves every single minute."


Oliver (pictured above, right) added: "It is fantastic that mum has been chosen as a Torchbearer.

"As an avid supporter of the Paralympic Movement it is a great honour for her and us as a family.

"Both our parents have played a vital part in our swimming careers and I am really excited about the Games."

The Paralympic Torch Relay begins with a Flame being lit in London, Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff – the four capitals of the home nations that make up Britain.

These Flames will each make their way to a special Flame Lighting Ceremony at Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of the Paralympics, on August 28 before embarking a 24-hour journey to the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony in Stratford.

Photo courtesy of Helen Hynd

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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