ELLEN Hunter is Beijing bound after her Team GB place for this summer’s Paralympic Games was confirmed.

The 39-year-old from Wrexham will act as pilot guide to the visually-impaired Aileen McGlynn at the China extravaganza, where the duo will defend the women’s 1km tandem time trial gold medal they won in Athens.

Ellen’s participation and subsequent success four years ago was all the more remarkable given she had broken her back in a cycling accident not long before and was told she may never cycle again.

During her six weeks in hospital, Ellen read multi-winning Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong’s autobiography which she claims provided her with the strength and courage to become a better and stronger cyclist.

Ellen, who also won B1-3 tandem sprint silver in Athens with Scotswoman McGlynn, credits her husband Paul as the driving force behind her cycling career – their first date was actually spent on the back of a bike.

Paul is a Paralympic medal winner himself having piloted Ian Sharpe to third in the men’s B1-3 tandem 4km individual at the last Games.