PARALYMPIC athlete Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has been presented with a lifetime achievement award at the National Lottery's 25th birthday celebrations.
Baroness Tanni, who lives in Teesside but was born in Cardiff, was presented with the award by Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy, the country's most successful Olympic athlete of all time.
During her sporting career she amassed a medal 16 Paralympics medals over 16 years, which included 11 golds.
She held over 30 world records and won the London Marathon six times.
She was supported through the National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, which affords athletes coaching, training, and competition support, medical, technology and scientific services. After her retirement from competition in 2007, she became a television presenter and a coach and mentor to young athletes. She was created a life peer in 2010 and sits in the House of Lords, representing the rights of those facing barriers and adversity.
She said: "The introduction of Lottery funding for athletes all those years ago allowed me to focus on what I loved doing and reach my full potential."
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