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Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE is Britain’s most successful Paralympic athlete. Born in Cardiff in 1969, she was named Carys Davina. However, when her sister first saw her she called her “tiny” which stuck and became Tanni. She was born with spina bifida but has always been encouraged to be independent. She attended local primary and secondary schools – at first using crutches and callipers, then a wheelchair – and subsequently obtained an honours degree in Politics at Loughborough University.

   She is now Britain’s best-known Paralympic athlete, having performed at world-class level in distances ranging from 100 metres to the Marathon. Tanni’s career has taken her around the world to every major international event. Her 16 Paralympic medals including eleven golds, six gold medals in the London Marathon and her comprehensive set of British and world records make her achievements second to none in disabled sport.

   Tanni has received numerous accolades in recognition of her Paralympic and sporting achievements. She was awarded third place in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2000, has become BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year three times, taken the title ‘Welsh Woman of the Year’ and many more. In 2000 she received an OBE in the Millennium New Years Honours List for her services to sport and in 2004 was made a Dame.

   Currently Tanni plays an active role in disability athletics as the Assistant Head of the Potential Programme, which has the responsibility for recognising and developing young disabled athletes to form the nucleus of a squad for the Beijing Paralympics in 2008. Tanni now lives in Redcar with her husband, Dr. Ian Thompson, and their daughter Carys who was born in February 2002. She writes:

   “My favourite poem is A Week’s Food by E C Brereton. My mum has a battered old book that she was given when she was about six, called Rhymes Old and New, published by Blackie. I still have the book. I used to sit on her knee and she used to read it to me. I love it because there is a picture on the side which is some of the food laid out, and a little boy and girl eating. Lovely childhood memories!”

Milk is nice for Monday

Milk begins with M

Treacle tarts for Tuesday

I’m rather fond of them

Walnuts do for Wednesday

Thursday, toast and tea

Friday figs; and Saturday soup;

And Sunday

                 Wait and see