Richardson, who won two gold medals and a silver at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, was hit by a white van while training near Bridgend last month and airlifted to hospital with spinal fractures, a broken pelvis and breastbone and a detached lung.

The incident on the A48 at Crack Hill near Cowbridge occurred on August 17 and left the 44-year-old from Porthcawl too injured to trial for the London 2012 Paralympics when he eventually returned home.

Edward Adams, a 60-year-old from Cowbridge, is alleged to have been driving the Peugeot Partner van that hit Richards and he appeared at Barry Magistrates' Court this week charged with dangerous driving, drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident.

Richardson, who has been told by doctors that it could be up to three years before he is fully recovered, was in court to witness the proceedings.

No pleas were entered to the charges and the case was adjourned until January 18 for Crown Court committal papers to be prepared.

Adams was granted bail on condition that he does not drive a motor vehicle.

The incident was not the first time Richardson has suffered such an accident as in 2001 he was seriously injured in cycling incident with a car while out with friends from a cycling club.

It left him with serious leg and back injuries and no feeling down his left hand side.

He continued to cycle after doctors recommended it would aid his rehabilitation and used a specially adapted bike powered only by his right leg.

He made his disability sport debut for the Wales national team in 2006 and went on to win Britain's first gold at Beijing in the LC3/4 1km time trial in world record time.

He claimed a second gold in China in the LC3–4 3km individual pursuit and went on to take a silver medal in the LC3 class road time trial behind gold medallist Laurent Thirionet of France.

He later received an MBE in 2009.

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