Another competitor who never thought she'd be in this position is archer Kate Murray who, at 64, is the eldest member of the British team.

"It meant everything to me," says Murray, who was disabled by a spinal condition 13 years ago. "Now, archery is all to me. It keeps me going, keeps me younger than 64."

While the Paralympic Games are about winning medals, they also have a broader importance. Officials say they demonstrate what the disabled can accomplish with a little support, and they hope the games will help expand opportunities for disabled people around the world.

Training expert Penny Briscoe, who gave up a career in the Olympic movement to help raise the quality of the British Paralympic team, is inspired by the athletes she works with.

"As much as I've given, I've probably got 10-fold back in terms of the experiences that I've had," Briscoe says. "And it didn't take long, actually, to understand that I was involved in a pretty special project, if I can call it that."

Briscoe hopes the quality and character of these athletes will help change perceptions of what disabled people can do.