#paralympics2012

A star was born. 3 gold medals, character, strength, talent & charming good looks. Meet Elena Ivanova.

Since winning the Gold medals, Elena was introduced to the Queen of England, congratulated by the President of Russia, welcomed home in Cheboksary, Chuvashia (Dr. Romanov's hometown, by the way) with honors, flowers and festivities.

It's been quite a journey but with the help of her coaches, Valeri Vasiliev and Dr. Romanov, she finally made it all the way to the top. And as if one Gold medal wasn't enough - she took 3, one in each event she participated in: 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. A very determined 24 year old sprinter didn't let anything stand in her way.

Amazing reception for all Games Makers all around London yesterday as we gave our Olympians an incredible and worthy reception. !

I was alone up in London, I didn't hook up with any of my team even though I was across the road from one person. I spent so much money getting there and coming back that I am now very very very very broke, with hundreds of things to do he rest of the week.

I watched the big screen at Trafalgar square and had a good view of some of the athletes I'd already met at the Village. Just before I was about to walk off a lady in a wheel chair, Michelle, came up to me looking for directions. To cut a long story short I spent the next hour with her, pushing her from Trafalgar square to Picadilly Circus and then riding the bus with her to Marylebone Station.

 It was a fucking nightmare!! Absolutely terrifying pushing someone in a chair around London. All the roads and curbs are out to get you and people just walked right into her, and said sorry TO ME!!!

We we into Trocadero (a huge arcade) to find the toilets and the security guard that had the keys to the toilet, shouted out that she needed the toilet and then proceeded to ignore Michelle and only speak to me. When she spoke to him he didn't even look at her!!!

So many more shockers along the way, but I'm so glad I helped! Even though I'm now completely broke from travelling later than I wanted to, even though my bad arm, bad knee and ankle fucking KILL, I'm sill glad I did what I did.