This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/19446114
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mark Colbourne's gold postbox honour after Paralympics win | Mark Colbourne's gold postbox honour after Paralympics win |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Gold medal winning Paralympic cyclist Mark Colbourne has been honoured with a gold postbox in his hometown and a set of stamps released by the Royal Mail. | |
| Colbourne, 42, claimed Wales' first gold of the 2012 Games in the C1 3km individual pursuit on Friday, setting a new world record. | Colbourne, 42, claimed Wales' first gold of the 2012 Games in the C1 3km individual pursuit on Friday, setting a new world record. |
| A postbox in Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, was painted gold on Saturday and stamps featuring him will be sold. | |
| The cyclist was hailed as a "great role model" after his win. | The cyclist was hailed as a "great role model" after his win. |
| He was congratulated by his MP Nick Smith and Disability Sport Wales following his gold medal and a silver medal, which was won on Thursday in the C1-2-3 time trial. | He was congratulated by his MP Nick Smith and Disability Sport Wales following his gold medal and a silver medal, which was won on Thursday in the C1-2-3 time trial. |
| The Royal Mail is issuing stamps for all gold medal-winning Paralympians and Colbourne is the third member of ParalympicsGB to appear on one. | The Royal Mail is issuing stamps for all gold medal-winning Paralympians and Colbourne is the third member of ParalympicsGB to appear on one. |
| The stamps will be available within five working days at 500 post office branches around the UK. | The stamps will be available within five working days at 500 post office branches around the UK. |
| An additional 4,700 post offices will receive the gold medal stamps within a week and they can also be purchased online. | An additional 4,700 post offices will receive the gold medal stamps within a week and they can also be purchased online. |
| Meanwhile, a postbox in Colbourne's hometown of Tredegar will be painted gold to mark his achievement - following on from the tradition the Royal Mail started for gold medal winning Olympians. | Meanwhile, a postbox in Colbourne's hometown of Tredegar will be painted gold to mark his achievement - following on from the tradition the Royal Mail started for gold medal winning Olympians. |
| Painting of the postbox outside Commercial Street Post Office will begin at 10:00 BST. | Painting of the postbox outside Commercial Street Post Office will begin at 10:00 BST. |
| 'Fantastic achievement' | 'Fantastic achievement' |
| Colbourne was badly injured in the Gower, Swansea, in a paragliding accident in May 2009. | Colbourne was badly injured in the Gower, Swansea, in a paragliding accident in May 2009. |
| He was left with a broken back and lower leg paralysis after his paraglider fell to the ground from around 40ft (12m). | He was left with a broken back and lower leg paralysis after his paraglider fell to the ground from around 40ft (12m). |
| He underwent five months of gruelling physiotherapy just to learn to walk again. | He underwent five months of gruelling physiotherapy just to learn to walk again. |
| It is Colbourne's first Paralympic Games and he is already his sport's world champion. | It is Colbourne's first Paralympic Games and he is already his sport's world champion. |
| His gold medal success has been welcomed by a number of leading officials and fellow cyclists. | His gold medal success has been welcomed by a number of leading officials and fellow cyclists. |
| Olympic gold medalist Geraint Thomas, from Cardiff, told BBC Radio Wales: "I've spoken quite a bit to Mark over the last year or so, he's a great bloke. | Olympic gold medalist Geraint Thomas, from Cardiff, told BBC Radio Wales: "I've spoken quite a bit to Mark over the last year or so, he's a great bloke. |
| "[Paralympians] all work so hard so it's great so seee them achieving what they set out to do." | "[Paralympians] all work so hard so it's great so seee them achieving what they set out to do." |
| Colbourne's local Labour MP Nick Smith said: "Mark is a great role model for young people throughout the country. His courage and endurance is remarkable and he's an inspiring ambassador for sport." | Colbourne's local Labour MP Nick Smith said: "Mark is a great role model for young people throughout the country. His courage and endurance is remarkable and he's an inspiring ambassador for sport." |
| Jon Morgan, the chief executive of Disability Sport Wales, said Colbourne had put in an amazing performance to win gold. | Jon Morgan, the chief executive of Disability Sport Wales, said Colbourne had put in an amazing performance to win gold. |
| "In his first Paralympic Games he won Paralympics GB's first medal of the Games on day one, and breaks a world record and wins gold on day two. What can I say - a fantastic achievement," he added. | "In his first Paralympic Games he won Paralympics GB's first medal of the Games on day one, and breaks a world record and wins gold on day two. What can I say - a fantastic achievement," he added. |