Paralympic athletes receive heartwarming messages from family before the Winter Games

Eleanor Rose9 March 2018

Paralympians have been moved to tears by inspirational messages of support from their loved ones ahead of the Winter Paralympics.

The athletes became emotional as they received heartwarming video pep-talks from families who praised them as "phenomenal" and "inspirational".

“You’re phenomenal and you’re such an inspiration to the both of us,” said the two daughters of world champion wheelchair curler Angie Malone MBE.

Tearing up, Malone said her daughters had been crucial to keeping her going after she received bad news.

Paralympians Ben Moore, Angie Malone MBE, Brett Wild and Millie Knight will compete in the Paralympics beginning Friday
PA

“We heard about the MBE the same day that my partner was diagnosed with throat cancer," Malone explained.

"But the support we had from our own daughters made it possible for me to continue.”

The other Paralympic athletes were also so moved by the messages, arranged by Virgin Media, that they told stories about the essential support their families have given.

“Good luck dad, do the best you can,” said the son of para alpine skier Chris Lloyd, who began his Paralympic career after breaking his back in a rally car accident in 2011.

In response to the video message Lloyd said: “At the time of the accident it was hard because I thought I’d let my family down.

“And then I set myself a goal to get into the Paralympics to make them proud of me again - and seeing this is really bringing it all back.”

ParalympicsGB members James Barnes-Miller, Millie Knight, Brett Wild and Scott Meenagh were all visibly moved as they watched the encouraging videos.

Messages of support also came from four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah as well as Richard Branson and Southampton Football Club.

In Pictures | Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018

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"I’m so proud of you James I could burst," said Barnes-Miller's mum to the para snowboarder.

Meanwhile para Nordic skier Meenagh's family told him: “Make sure you deserve every single moment because you absolutely deserve it and we’ll be with you the whole way.”

He responded: "Sport's not just changed my life, it's saved my life."

A glittering Opening Ceremony at the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium will raise the curtain up on the Winter Paralympics on Friday.

ParalympicsGB have sent a squad of 17 over to South Korea for the Games following their most successful Paralympic Winter Games ever four years ago in Sochi.

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