Q&A: Natalie Jones

Jones was in superb form at the Athens Paralympics

We gave you the chance to put your questions to one of Great Britain's Paralympic stars.

Manchester-based swimmer Natalie Jones came away from Athens with two gold medals in the 200m S6 individual medley and the 4x50m relay.

It was her second Paralympics after she made her debut aged just 15 in Sydney.

Now the 20-year-old Chelsea fan is hoping for more success in the inaugural Paralympic World Cup in Manchester in May.

Many thanks for your questions - a selection appear below.

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What are your aims for the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester in May? Paul, Kent.

My aims for the World Cup are to at least equal what I did in Athens, if not better it. I'm doing three events so let's hope I can do well.

How important is it for you to come up against top-class opposition on a regular basis? Who will be your biggest rivals in Manchester? Andy, London

It's very important because then you can see how they have been training and how hard they have been working. My biggest rivals going into Manchester will be (fellow Briton) Nyree Lewis and Maria Goetze from Germany. I beat her in Athens and I know she will be wanting revenge!

If we are coming to Manchester for the Paralympic World Cup, aside from the sporting activity, what should we not go home without seeing/doing? Kathy, Holland.

The shopping in Manchester is fantastic so I would definitely recommend going to the Trafford Centre. As a newcomer to Manchester myself, I don't really know what else to suggest but you will have a great time.

Were you surprised by what you achieved in Athens, especially beating Nyree Lewis in the individual medley and setting a world record in the process? Did you enjoy it more as it was your second Paralympics? Sarah, Leicester.

I was absolutely amazed. I really didn't expect it. The heat I did in the morning session was brilliant as I did a personal best there, but to get gold and beat my two biggest rivals in the final was a great feeling.

Sydney was a great experience and I will never forget it but I didn't really leave my mark there as I didn't make any of the finals. Athens will definitely mean more to me because that is where I won my first major medal.

Where do you keep your gold medals? Luke, Oxford.

If I told you that I might have to kill you! Only joking - they are never really out of my handbag as I often need them for different things and people always want to see them.

Why do you think the Paralympic team achieved so much in Athens, compared to the Olympic team? Kate Black, Newcastle.

This is a hard question, but from a Paralympic point of view we peaked at exactly the right time and our training methods were spot on.

Have you considered adding any other events to those you do or maybe just specialising in one stroke? Becky, NE England.

I have considered it but at the moment I'm concentrating a lot on the 400m freestyle. I seem to be doing ok in it, as everytime I swim it, I do a personal best. But I'm still learning how to pace myself and I think it will get better in time.

Could you describe a typical day's training? Linda Jackson, Glasgow.

I get up at 6am to be in the pool for 7am. I have a two hour session there, followed by an hour in the gym. Then I come home for a couple of hours to sleep and go back to the pool at 3pm for another two hours work. After that, I come home and collapse on the sofa.

What do you consider to be your greatest sporting success to date? Jake Smith, Manchester.

It has definitely got to be Athens because I achieved so much there and that's where I left my mark on the rest of the world.

Looking ahead to the long term future, what are your plans? Do you see yourself staying involved in swimming or is there life beyond the pool? Matt K, London

I would love to stay with swimming and maybe eventually get into coaching. I would also like to get back into the travel business, as thats what I did before I became a full-time swimmer.

One of the perks of your job must be the travel involved. What has been your favourite destination so far? Nikki M, Liverpool.

To be honest, we don't get to see a lot of the country itself unless we are at a major competition like the Paralympics. All we really get to see is the airport, the hotel and the pool but I think Sydney has to be my favourite place and i would love to go back there one day.

I think the country that left me with the biggest impression was the Ukraine because we saw people queuing up for everyday essentials like bread and milk but the city had five 50m pools.

How do you relax outside swimming? Louise D, London

I love to go and watch Chelsea play. I'm a massive fan and a season ticket holder so I try to go to all the home games and some of the away games. Apart from that I like watching television, listening to music and going to the cinema - things normal people do.

As a Chelsea fan, who is your favourite player? What has been your favourite game this season?

I have two favourites - the first is Frank Lampard because, let's face it, who doesn't like him, and the other is John Terry because he is so determined to do his best at everything and he really wants to achieve!

The best game I have been to has to be the Carling Cup semi-final at Old Trafford because it was a game that had you on the edge of your seats all night, it was fab!