There were athletes in wheelchairs, and some with prostheses in place of missing limbs. We were awed, inspired and deeply moved by their powerful performances and sheer determination to overcome their physical disabilities in these final, exciting days of the Summer Paralympic Games in Beijing.

We were particularly impressed by the swimming style of Takayuki Suzuki, who won the gold medal and set a new world record in the men's 50m breaststroke.

He has no right leg at all, and his left leg is missing from the mid-thigh. His right arm ends at the elbow.