Dr Ed Coughlan: Now is the time for Paralympians to receive the respect they deserve

Róisín Ní Ríain put forward some of the misconceptions she has had to deal with, such as that para athletes don’t have the same level of commitment

INSPIRATIONAL STUFF: China’s Tao Zheng competes in his men’s 100m freestyle heat on day two of the Paralympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. ‘The backstories for many Paralympians reflect a resolve to find a way,’ argues our columnist. Picture: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

The Olympics family covers humanity well and in many respects is the best version of ourselves and a shining example of what is possible.

As a nation we are fortunate to have strong representation across the board, apart from maybe the winter disciplines.