Barrow's Paula Johnson to compete in Beijing Paralympics!
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27th August 2008
A SPORTSWOMAN has received a surprise call-up into the spectacular Paralympics Games in Beijing.
Miss Johnson, 30, who lives in Hindpool, was shopping at a Barrow supermarket when she received the call-up. She said: “I was in the middle of Asda doing a shop and the coach rang my mobile. I couldn’t believe it. To be honest the news hasn’t hit home yet. I am still in shock.”
Miss Johnson has trained and represented Great Britain at wheelchair basketball since 2004, but initially she failed to make the final cut for this year’s games.
But after a member of the original line-up was forced to drop out of the Paralympics, Miss Johnson was asked to take her place. She said: “The coach asked me if I’d like to go to the games. I didn’t need to think before I said yes.
“I was still getting over the disappointment of not being selected and then I got the call. It’s the chance of a lifetime. It’s like Christmas has come early.”
Miss Johnson was due to travel to London this weekend to join the Great Britain team in their training preparations, before flying out to Beijing next Friday.
She said: “At the moment my life is just manic trying to get everything sorted. Apparently they don’t even have a kit for me yet and I have to get my chair ready to be flown out from Heathrow. I am rushing about all over the place.”
Miss Johnson was diagnosed with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, at the age of 17. She began playing wheelchair basketball with the Barrow Falcons, before being selected to train with the national side.
In 2005, Miss Johnson represented Great Britain in the European Cup.
When asked if she fancied the team’s chances of winning a medal at this year’s Games, Miss Johnson seemed positive.
She said: “For the team, the main point of the Paralympics is to use it to try and go up in the world rankings, but I think we are a strong side and we might have a chance. It would definitely be a bonus.”
Miss Johnson said that she and her teammates face stiff competition in the form of Brazil, Australia, USA and Germany. But she believes that the team who pose the biggest threat are their fellow Europeans.
She said: “It is a bit of a hard draw as the Germans are like machines on the court.”
Miss Johnson’s family will be tracking her progress from back home in Barrow.
She said: “My friends and family are still in shock about it all too, but they are all behind me.“I am really excited about it. I can die happy after I have been to the Paralympics, it is an amazing opportunity.”
The Beijing Paralympics run from September 6 to 17.