Prendergast (pictured above) won a Paralympic gold medal in the T13 800 metres at Athens 2004, as well as two silvers at Sydney 2000 in the 800m and the 1500m.

He went on to captain the New Zealand squad which competed in Beijing four years' ago, but failed to repeat his earlier successes, and while he is keen to remedy that at the London Paralympics this summer, he admits that marathon running appeals to him at some point in the future.

"We do a lot of long running in training, sometimes 80 miles a week, and I would love to do that mythical distance," he told insideworldparasport.

"If I am not too bad maybe [I could] pursue it for a World Championships or Paralympics.

"Whether that marathon comes straight after the Games or whether I am 35 or 38 I am not sure yet."

At the age of 33, Prendergast is not intending to give up the 800m and 1500m just yet, and will keep going for as long as he can.

"A lot of people point and say you're 33 now, this must be your last one," he said.

"I'm never going to say never, if my training times are good a decision will be made post Games whether I go on and go to the World Championships in July next year.

"As long as I am enjoying it and playing to my potential I will continue.

"If not in the 1,500 then in a long distance like a marathon or something."

Whatever the future holds Prendergast said: "I can see myself having a presence".

The veteran of three Paralympics, Prendergast has lived in London for five years, having come over with his wife for what was meant to be a year originally.

It means that London 2012, in the Kiwi's words, "could not be further from home but feel like a home Games".

During his time in London Prendergast has been working with the Sky Sport Living for Sport programme, an initiative which looks to inspire youngsters to get into sport by sending leading athletes to their schools.

"Sometimes people say you are training full time but you are still going to schools – do you not get tired?

"You just plan your timetable wisely but the school visits energise me...it's a really awesome programme."

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