From Woodingdean to the Paralympics - meet Ben Quilter.

Ben Quilter is the Visually Impaired Judo World Champion, a title he won in 2012 when he won gold at the 2010 World Championships. He is also the winner of two silver European Championship medals. On April 11 this year it was announced that Ben will represent Paralympics GB in front of a packed Excel Arena on 30 August.

Ben grew up in Woodingdean and started judo when he was about 7 years old. He says that he was a pretty average junior but to Ben average means that he came an impressive fifth in the National Championships! At the age of 10 Ben was diagnosed with a rare genetic degenerative sight condition called Stargards disease. He is quoted as saying I wouldn't be half the man I am today and would not have enjoyed half the success in either my judo or my education if it wasn't for my sight condition.
Ben has no central vision and can only see peripherally.

Ben went to Longhill High School where he says ˜My brother, who has the same condition as I do but is a couple of years older, was the guinea pig for how the school dealt with our declining site, I was lucky as the school and all my mates were incredibly supportive.

˜I started taking Judo really seriously when I was about 16. I was disappointed that I didn't get selected for Athens in 2004 but at that stage decided I had to really give Judo everything I had or I should quit. I decided to give it everything I had and was delighted to be selected for the Beijing Paralympics in 2008. I finished fifth in Beijing which was amazing and I really loved the experience."

In 2010 Ben was awarded the Sussex Sports Personality of the year award. He said "What drives me now is the challenge to win gold at the London 2012 Paralympics in front of a home crowd."

And two years later Ben will have the chance to do just that. Channel 4 is the official broadcaster of the London 2012 Paralympics games are televising the Paralympics so you will be able to support him at home on the 30 August if you have not been able to get tickets.

Ben is training full time at the British Judo Performance Institute in Dartford. He regularly visits his parents who still live in Woodindean. Ben's Dad Roy Quilter works for the Brighton and Hove bus company.
Once the Olympics is over Ben will be getting ready for another life changing event, he is marrying fiance Francesca in October.