I'm so sad the Games are over. It's been such a wonderful summer and I've been so inspired by the dedication, determination and athleticism that I've seen over the past few weeks. Haven't we all?
I've been thinking about the legacy of these Games and what that means to me. And I've come to the conclusion that it's about so much more than sport, and is more vital even than our changing attitudes towards disability (although I believe that is very important).
I feel like the Games have brought out the best in us. As individuals. As a nation. For the past few weeks we've been better than our usual selves. We have seen value and felt joy at real people, achieving real things, sometimes against the odds and confounding all expectations. We've laughed, we've cried, we've urged athletes on to victory with every fibre of our being. We've felt the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
If we can take one thing away from this summer, I'd like it to be that we all try to keep being these best versions of ourselves. Isn't that what the elite athletes, both Olympic and Paralympic, strive towards every day? To be the best that they can be? I think we can learn a lot from that, whatever "best" means to each of us. So I plan to keep a little 'lympic flame burning in my chest and to try to be my best self, each and every day. I won't get it right every time, sometimes I'll have to settle for being out of the medals. but that won't stop me from trying.
What does the London 2012 legacy mean to you?
