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| Paralympic gold 'for dead mother' | Paralympic gold 'for dead mother' |
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| A swimmer from south Wales has won a gold medal in the Paralympics despite the grief of her mother dying. | A swimmer from south Wales has won a gold medal in the Paralympics despite the grief of her mother dying. |
| Liz Johnson's mother Bonnie lost her battle with cervical cancer on the day she arrived in the training camp. | Liz Johnson's mother Bonnie lost her battle with cervical cancer on the day she arrived in the training camp. |
| Johnson, 22, from Rogerstone, near Newport, who has cerebral palsy, overcame her sadness to win the 100m breaststroke in the pool at Beijing. | Johnson, 22, from Rogerstone, near Newport, who has cerebral palsy, overcame her sadness to win the 100m breaststroke in the pool at Beijing. |
| The swimmer dedicated her win to her mother, saying it was testimony to the way she had brought her up. | The swimmer dedicated her win to her mother, saying it was testimony to the way she had brought her up. |
| She was heartbroken when her 53-year-old mother, a teacher, died from cervical cancer in a Cardiff hospital the day she left for training camp at Macau, China. | She was heartbroken when her 53-year-old mother, a teacher, died from cervical cancer in a Cardiff hospital the day she left for training camp at Macau, China. |
| But Johnson, who won silver four years ago at the Athens Paralympics, promised to carrying on swimming as a tribute to her mother. | But Johnson, who won silver four years ago at the Athens Paralympics, promised to carrying on swimming as a tribute to her mother. |
| Johnson overcome her sadness to win gold for Team GB on Friday. | Johnson overcome her sadness to win gold for Team GB on Friday. |
| She taught me to believe that I was no different to anybody else Liz Johnson on her mother | |
| She immediately dedicated her medal to her mother who first took her to swimming lessons. | She immediately dedicated her medal to her mother who first took her to swimming lessons. |
| Johnson said: "She taught me to believe that I was no different to anybody else. | Johnson said: "She taught me to believe that I was no different to anybody else. |
| "I am so happy. This is testimony to the way my mum brought me up." | "I am so happy. This is testimony to the way my mum brought me up." |
| Her mother first took her daughter swimming at the age of three to help her with her cerebal palsy. | Her mother first took her daughter swimming at the age of three to help her with her cerebal palsy. |
| A spokesman for British Swimming said: "Naturally she is upset but she will continue to compete for Great Britain in memory of her mother." | A spokesman for British Swimming said: "Naturally she is upset but she will continue to compete for Great Britain in memory of her mother." |
| Her aunt Karen Lang said: "She has worked so hard. She would have not had wanted Liz to come back." | Her aunt Karen Lang said: "She has worked so hard. She would have not had wanted Liz to come back." |
| On Saturday she will go for gold again in the 50m butterfly - with the 50m freestyle on Monday. | On Saturday she will go for gold again in the 50m butterfly - with the 50m freestyle on Monday. |
| Johnson's cyclist boyfriend Jody Cundy, 29, also rode to gold in the mens LC2 one-kilometre time-trial at the games. | Johnson's cyclist boyfriend Jody Cundy, 29, also rode to gold in the mens LC2 one-kilometre time-trial at the games. |