The 33-year-old from Manchester, who was born with a deformed left hand, started out in the sport of swimming where she won 16 Paralympic medals across four Paralympic Games.

Following the Athens 2004 Paralympics, she switched to the sport of cycling and went on to win two more gold medals in the sport at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics.

Storey's incredible career reached new heights at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games last October when she became the first disabled cyclist to compete for England at the event and she is now targeting a spot at the London 2012 Olympics as well as the Paralympics.

Controversy has emerged on the subject of whether Paralympians should compete in able-bodied events after South African double leg amputee Oscar Pistorius was selected to compete in the able-bodied World Championships later this month.

Storey believes disability athletes should be welcome at able-bodied events as long as they view it in the right way.

"I would hate to hear a Paralympic athlete come out and say that they would rather compete at the Olympics than the Paralympics," Storey told insideworldparasport.

"If that happened, it would be very wrong.

"In my case, I have never sought out competing in able-bodied events for any reason other than the fact that I love racing and riding my bike and competing.

"The women's team pursuit is a wonderful event and I wanted to try for it but it is not in the Paralympic programme, so you could say that it's by default that I am trying to get in the Olympic team.

"I know there is a lot of talk and controversy about Oscar but he simply achieved a time in the 400 metres that allows him to compete in a top able-bodied competition.

"It does not mean that he doesn't value Paralympic competition because he values it more than the Olympics.

"It doesn't even mean he is better than other Paralympians because he was beaten at the Paralympic World Athletics Championships in New Zealand earlier this year in the 100m [by United States athlete Jerome Singleton].

"So for me there is no issue at all with top Paralympians competing against able-bodied athletes.

"It is good for Paralympic sport and shows what Paralympians are capable of but it the Paralympic Games should also come first ahead of any able-bodied event."

Storey will be approaching 35 when the she competes at the Paralympic Games next year but stated that there is still a likelihood she could stay on to compete at the Rio 2016 Games.

"In cycling, most athletes approach their peak in their mid-30s and I still feel like I am very much in the middle of my career," she said.

"Even though the London 2012 Games are obviously the main focus, I would not even rule out competing at the Rio 2016 Games if I stay can stay fit and healthy.

"I haven't made any decision about whether I will compete after London as I will get through this four-year cycle first but the likelihood is that I will carry on.

"But that is a long way off and you are only as good as your next race so the key is to keep trying to improve every day."

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