CORNWALL'S very own Jonathan Fox was the pride of the county four years ago when he returned home from the 2008 Beijing Paralympics with a silver medal.

But the 20-year-old swimmer, from St Stephen, will be aiming to go one better this summer when he represents Great Britain in the 2012 London Paralympics.

And if taking his place on the podium in Beijing wasn't special enough, Fox admits emulating that success back home in England would be his biggest achievement yet.

And there have been many.

He is world champion in the 100m backstroke and world record holder in the 400m freestyle and 100m backstroke.

At an international level he has been awarded five European medals, including three golds.

But his biggest honour to date is winning silver in the 100m backstroke at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

Proud

He said: "That was an enormously proud moment in Beijing, it was such an amazing feeling and a very special experience.

"I've been doing well, but obviously I'm not getting too carried away because there is some very good competition."

Fox will be taking part in a number of events before the Games, which take place at the Olympic Park Aquatic Centre from August 30 – September 8.

Fox was born with Cerebral Palsy and took up competitive swimming at the age of 11 as part of his physiotherapy regime.

But it was clear from there that Fox had something special.

And in 2010, he moved away from Cornwall to work with coach Mick Massey at the Manchester High Performance Centre.

It was a move that Fox felt has improved his ability vastly, so it proved last year when he broke two world records.

He said: "I was swimming in Newquay, which was great, but to improve my performance I decided to move up to Manchester.

"I'm really enjoying my time up here, the coaching is really good, without that help I don't think I'd be where I am today."

Amazing

Fox also owes much of his success to the support he has received from his parents.

He said: "They have been amazing, driving me all over the country to take part in competitions.

"It was a bit strange leaving home, but my parents come up to see me as much as they can. They're quite proud!"

It's not just in the swimming pool that Fox is a dab hand. He can complete a Rubik's Cube in 1min 30secs.

And when his swimming career is over, the talented youngster would like to be a mechanic – an ambition fuelled further after once spending the weekend driving Lamborghini.

He said: "I'm really into my cars, and once I'm finished swimming that's something I'd like to get into more.

"But for now swimming comes first, I've got a lot of hard work ahead; hopefully it will pay off."

Jonathan Fox is a member of the British Gas GBR Disability Swimming Team. The British Gas Swimming Championships 2012 (selection trials) run from March 3-10 at the London Aquatics Centre www.swimming.org/britishswimming/2012trials