Mel Clarke 1The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were an astounding success and in the case of my sport, archery, there has been a definite increase in people interested in the sport as a result.

Archery's increased popularity is clear to see at my club, Severn Archers, in Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire.

When there is the option at archery events for spectators to have a go themselves this is always popular. However, since the Games took place there is now a constant stream of enthusiastic attendees keen to try their hand at the sport since seeing it televised during London 2012.

The new Disney film Brave and the ongoing popularity of The Hunger Games movie franchise has also helped!

As well as London 2012 Disneys Brave has helped to boost the popularity of archeryAs well as London 2012, Disney's Brave has helped to boost the popularity of archery

Working as an Athlete Mentor with the Youth Sport Trust on Sky Sports Living for Sport, I have the fantastic opportunity to go into schools and work with students on sport led projects. I have been an Athlete Mentor for a couple of years now, however, over the past few months I have noticed that the attitudes of the students I meet in schools have changed towards disability as Paralympic athletes have become more well-known.

Now, if I show a video clip in a school session highlighting some of the accomplishments of Paralympians from 2012, the athletes are instantly recognised and met with positive responses from the students.

The Paralympic legacy has also opened people up to disability and the students are more comfortable asking questions. In my experience, this has enabled students with their own disabilities or challenges to be more willing to talk about them and to focus on what they can do, opposed to what they cannot.

Many of the schools registered for the initiative have now integrated Parasports into their project. It is now not uncommon to see the students playing sports such as boccia, new age curling or seated volleyball – some of which were never heard of two years ago. This has increased the opportunities for pupils with disabilities in mainstream education to participate equally in sporting activities with their non-disabled classmates.

It is now not uncommon to see the students playing sports such as bocciaIt is now not uncommon to see the students playing sports such as boccia

My 2012 Paralympic experience and the memories I have will stay with me forever. We are six months on from the Games and I feel that people are still as inspired to get more involved in sport. The pupils and teachers I meet are always keen to hold my silver medal and to talk about their favourite memories from the event.

Athletes training for an Olympic or Paralympic Games work in a four-year cycle, so, with Rio 2016 now only three and a half years away, I am back to training hard in the hope of having the change again to compete on the best "stage" in the world and to represent Great Britain  at my third Paralympic Games.

After winning a bronze at Beijing in 2008 and a silver at London 2012, I am aiming to "complete the set" and win a Paralympic gold in Rio 2016, using all I have learnt on my journey to make this possible.

Mel Clarke is a Paralympic silver medallist archer and uses her inspirational sporting journey to inspire others as an Athlete Mentor for Sky Sports Living for Sport, a free secondary school initiative delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust.