The 16-year-old won two gold medals and broke two world records at the competition in Berlin earlier this month, the last major event for Britain's top Paralympic swimmers ahead of the Paralympics.

Simmonds claims that she has a lot of hard training to do ahead of London 2012 but with the European Championships out of the way, she is now concentrating 100 per cent on claiming success in front of a home crowd at the Aquatics Centre in Stratford.

"It has been a hard year for me this year but I'm delighted that I came away from Berlin with two gold medals and two world records," Simmonds told insideworldparasport.

"I knew it was the last major event for me before London 2012 so I wanted to put a bit of a marker down and I think I did that.

"But now the event is over, I am thinking solely about London 2012.

"I know it is still over a year away but that time will pass very quickly and I will need to train as hard as I possibly can because now I have a target on my back.

"At the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, I wasn't very well known it I think I surprised a lot of people by winning gold.

"But at London, everyone knows who I am so I will have to go there and be at my best to win there."


Simmonds, who is undisputedly going to be one of the biggest stars at the London 2012 Paralympics, also recently appeared in a new series of 90-second short films on London 2012 Paralympic host broadcaster station Channel 4.

The Channel 4 programmes, which were produced in conjunction with the first ever Paralympic Games-only sponsor Sainsbury's, are part of a marketing plan designed to promote the Paralympic Games and Simmonds admitted it was great to be involved in them.

"I really enjoy all the media stuff because it gives me a break from the pool and allows me to help promote the Paralympics which is something I am really passionate about," said Simmonds.

"I loved being a part of the Channel 4 programmes and I thought they came out really well.

"I think what Channel 4 and Sainsbury's are doing for the Paralympics is fantastic and I am so happy to be involved in it.

"It seems like the Paralympics is starting to reach the same level as the Olympics which was unthinkable a few years ago.

"After London 2012, I think that will be the case even more than it is now and it is an honour to play and role I can in that."

You can see the Simmonds' Channel 4 programme online here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Releated stories
July 2011: Britain sign off from European Championships with gold medal haul of 27 to finish in second place
July 2011: Simmonds smashes world record en route to second gold medal at European Championships
July 2011: Simmonds leads British gold rush as IPC Swimming European Championships get underway
May 2011: Simmonds lead Britain to victory at the BT Paralympic World Cup
March 2011: Simmonds set to headline in Manchester at 2011 BT Paralympic World Cup