By David Gold

Daniel Dias_06-07-12July 6 - Brazil is sending 182 athletes from 18 sports, including swimming stars Daniel Dias and André Brasil, as they seek to make their mark at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

There will be more than 300 people in total sent as part of the Brazilian delegation with an eye on Rio 2016.

Dias (pictured above) was the winner of three gold medals at Beijing 2008 and won a stunning eight titles at the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships.

He then went even better at last year's Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he won all 11 events and is set to be one of the country's main hopes for glory in London.

Brasil also won four gold medals in Beijing four years' ago, and the pair spearhead what is a strong swimming selection.

The other headline Brazilian heading to London will be sprinter Terezinha Guilhermina, the T11 200 metres gold medallist from Beijing, who is hoping to improve on silver and bronze in the 100m and 400m respectively.

Shirlene Coelho_06-07-12
Others to watch include F37 javelin world record holder Shirlene Coelho (pictured above), and Jefinho, the star of the reigning five-a-side football Paralympic champions.

At Beijing in 2008 Brazil finished ninth overall in the final medals table.

They won a total of 47 medals, including 16 gold.

Their ultimate target is finishing among the top five nations at Rio de Janeiro in four years time.

"With this convocation, the Brazilian delegation is complete for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London," said Andrew Parsons, the President of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee.

"The team will be composed of athletes and coaches from the highest level.

"I'm extremely confident in each member of this team.

"The Brazilian Paralympic Committee will work structure to give the best in London for the Brazilian delegation to reach the main goal in this edition of Paralympic Games, which is to have the best results of all time."

The full team can be viewed here

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