Norfolk (pictured top) said he would have chosen double gold medal-winning wheelchair athlete David Weir or Lee Pearson (pictured below), whom he referred to as "Sir Lee", an equestrian rider who has won three gold medals at the last three Games.

If Pearson continues his record of winning every Paralympic event he has ever entered in London in the next fortnight he would overtake Baroness Tanni-Grey Thompson as Britain's most successful Paralympian of all time.

Norfolk told insideworldparasport: "We have some fabulous athletes and I sit here and think 'why are they not doing it'?

"I am sure I will get quite a bit of ribbing when I go into the [Paralympic] Village so I am looking forward to that.

"It was a massive surprise to be chosen by my fellow peers and athletes.

"I have never done an Opening Ceremony because it has always interfered with my preparation – now I have no choice!


"Going into the [Olympic] Stadium with 80,000 shouting for us will be something amazing which I have never experienced before."

Norfolk joked: "The flag is quite heavy so it will be a challenge how they put it on my chair."

The 51-year-old, who has won the wheelchair tennis quad singles title at the last two Paralympic Games, also insisted that his sights are only focused on a third gold medal.

"I only want gold," he said.

"Second place is not interesting for me, no-one remembers second.

"At the end of the day you only have one shot – I have done what I can and if I succeed I do, if I don't I won't."

Norfolk is also aiming for a first Paralympic doubles gold title alongside Andy Lapthorne.

The duo (pictured below) have won the Australian Open for the last two years, and Norfolk sees no reason why they cannot claim the title at Eton Manor this summer.

"I think this year we have a good chance of the doubles as well, and I would like to do the double!

Lapthorne has also spoken to insideworldparasport about his hopes for the summer, and said that helping Norfolk make history is a significant motivator.

"He is looking to complete the whole set which is something I am hoping to help him do," he said.

"And that drives me on – he has done most things but never a gold in doubles so I want to help him achieve that.


"I have the honour of playing with a guy who has won two gold medals and numerous Grand Slams so to be alongside him is always good and you can only learn from someone like that."

Lapthorne, at 21, is at the opposite end of his career to Norfolk, having only begun competing in the quad division in 2008.

Since he began his doubles partnership with Norfolk they have become the first ever British doubles pair to win a wheelchair tennis Grand Slam event when they won in Australia in 2011.

He admits they are expected to claim gold this summer, but is also hopeful of putting up a good show in the singles tournament, having won events at Baton Rouge in the United States and Johannesburg, South Africa, already this year.

"We are the world number one doubles pair so we are expected to win," he said.

"Having played a lot of tournaments together over the last couple of years we have been very successful.

"And singleswise I am looking to do the same thing.

"We have worked hard together and to retain the title [in Australia] was a lot harder than winning the first.

"You dream of these moments and you do not think it will really come around.

"To actually be here is really exciting."

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