When Mel Nicholls made her wheelchair racing debut at the 2012 Paralympics in London, it was such a special experience that – not surprisingly – she wanted to capture it.

Athletes are known to collect memorabilia from the Games, and Nicholls was no different, although she needed more than one suitcase to bring her collectibles home.

“In London they were selling the furniture from the rooms in the village, so I bought my bedroom – my guest room is finished,” Nicholls told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

“I have my bed, the bedspread, the sideboard, flags and various posters from the games.

“You have the memories, but collecting memorabilia is a great thing to hold on to.”

The Paris Games will be Nicholls’ third Paralympics, but they will be significantly different, not least because the 47-year-old is taking part in the new para-triathlon event.

Nicholls came to the sport “by chance” after taking part in her first competition just two years ago.

“Wheelchair racing is part of triathlon, but it’s very different,” she said. “It’s not on the track, it’s at the end of a complete swim, transition, bike and transition phase, it’s on the cobbles of Paris, it’s not flat.”

“Training for one discipline and now training for three for the last two years is something else again, but what an opportunity (it is), I hadn’t planned, I didn’t see coming. I’m just taking it and doing everything I can.”