The former outdoor instructor won gold at the same event this month, following on from silver medals at the European and World Championships during the summer.

"On the day I was discharged, I applied to the BPA," Young told the Belfast Telegraph.

"I wanted to do as much sport as I could for rehab, and it was through the BPA that I was offered training in canoeing full-time.

"So I decided to move from Kent to Nottingham to train at the high-performance centre."

Jonny Young will no doubt be posing for a similar GB Para-canoe squad photo at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images




Speaking about how he sustained his injury, Young said: "I worked for Rock UK and World Challenge as an outdoor instructor, leading skiing and trekking.

"I was in Le Cluzeau in France in December 2012 and went into the snow park.

"I went over a jump too fast, cleared the landing, landed on my feet and crumpled under the weight of myself, and that caused my spinal injury.

"I was helicoptered off the mountain to Annecy Hospital, where I spent six days, and was then transported to Stoke Mandeville Hospital for four-and-a-half months."

Young told how he is now on the road to Rio 2016 and how he hopes his story will inspire other young men and women who have suffered a similar injury to improve their lives through sport.

"I would encourage other people to go for it," he said.

Para-canoeing makes its debut as a Paralympic sport at Rio 2016.

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