Mother's Pride As Brothers Compete

The mother of two teenage brothers from Hampshire has spoken of her pride after watching them compete in Britain's first Paralympic goalball team.

Bridget Knott has been watching nervously from the stands as her sons, Adam, 17, and 15-year-old David, compete for Team GB at London 2012.

She and husband Phil regularly look after the British goalball team as they travel from across the country to train at Adam's local college in Winchester.

The bedroom floors of the family home in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, often double up as beds for the team members, and Mrs Knott, 46, said the squad had become like ''one big family'' in the build-up to the Games.

She said:

 ''I've been really lucky. I get to spend a lot of time with the squad when they stay at the house for training. We throw mattresses on the floor for somewhere to sleep. It's like one big family.

''Watching David and Adam is the most nerve-wracking experience I've ever had, but it's been phenomenal so far. The response from the crowd has been amazing.

''In the last match I was so nervous I couldn't watch for the last 30 seconds. I ended up hiding under a union flag.

''Any parent with a son or daughter in the Paralympics will be proud. But to have two sons taking part is incredible.

''To see them walking on with the squad has been overwhelming. The games have been tough so they were absolutely ecstatic to have managed a draw. Seeing them celebrate with the crowd, it did feel like a victory.''

This Games is the first time Britain has entered a team into the Paralympic specific sport for the visually impaired, where competitors wear eye patches to ensure a level playing field.