0:00:19 > 0:00:20Crazy.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Amazing. Bonkers.
0:00:24 > 0:00:25I'm Joanne.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29I'm part of a very exclusive club.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33There are only seven people like me on the planet.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37I am in demand all over the world.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Everybody, Joanne O'Riordan.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46I've been on TV more times than I can remember.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48I've met Westlife AND One Direction.
0:00:48 > 0:00:49I'm a teenage girl!
0:00:49 > 0:00:53My motto in life is that if you want something...
0:00:53 > 0:00:56you've got to go and get it.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58So what makes me so special?
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Is it my easygoing charm?
0:01:01 > 0:01:05I hate being told what to do. I'm an independent woman.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Or my sense of humour?
0:01:09 > 0:01:10Or was I just born lucky?
0:01:20 > 0:01:23My name is Joanne O'Riordan. I'm 17.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27I was born with total amelia.
0:01:29 > 0:01:30That's Greek for no limbs.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36It's a really rare condition.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40On top of that, I slouch!
0:01:40 > 0:01:43So doctors have put a titanium rod that runs up my spine.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Other than that, I'm a normal teenage girl.
0:01:49 > 0:01:50I love fashion...
0:01:50 > 0:01:54Thank God I don't have feet - I'd cost my dad a fortune!
0:01:54 > 0:01:55..sports...
0:01:59 > 0:02:00..music...
0:02:00 > 0:02:02# She can't sing She can't dance... #
0:02:03 > 0:02:05..and my dog Sally.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10Ah! She bit my bum!
0:02:14 > 0:02:19I live in Ireland with Anne. That's what I call my mum.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Yeah, I love calling her Anne. She doesn't respond otherwise.
0:02:22 > 0:02:23And my dad Joe.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Guess how they came up with my name?
0:02:26 > 0:02:28Joe and Anne. Joanne. Geddit?
0:02:28 > 0:02:29Genius.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35And at the moment, my older brother Steven is here.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Steven's my fashion advisor. He thinks he's Gok Wan.
0:02:40 > 0:02:41Action!
0:02:41 > 0:02:43And for the last couple of months,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46I've been followed by Mark from the BBC.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48I've always made the most of what I've got,
0:02:48 > 0:02:51with what I like to call my little arm.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54This is the joy stick to drive my chair.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56I can get around...
0:02:59 > 0:03:00..feed myself...
0:03:00 > 0:03:02This takes skill.
0:03:08 > 0:03:09..clean my teeth...
0:03:12 > 0:03:14..walk the dog.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19I use my phone for texting...
0:03:21 > 0:03:24I have muscle pains at the top of my lip if I text too much,
0:03:24 > 0:03:25it gets tired.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29..and games.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39I've even worked out a class way to work my laptop - fairly cool.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41One time, we did one of those, like, tests at school
0:03:41 > 0:03:45and I typed 36 words per minute. I think.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49From a very early age, Joanne was very independent.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54The word no never came into Joanne's vocabulary.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57She was like, "I'm here, I want to do what you're doing,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00"I want to be the same as everybody else.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02"I might be doing it in a completely different way,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05"but I'm actually able to do it."
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Do you want to see One Direction's tour bus?
0:04:07 > 0:04:08It's nicer than the house.
0:04:10 > 0:04:11Look, there's me!
0:04:13 > 0:04:18I've always been encouraged to be independent and I never give up.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Steven's been filming me since I was a baby.
0:04:24 > 0:04:25I tried legs...
0:04:27 > 0:04:29..and arms,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32but I never really got on with them.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36Frankly, when you've got no limbs, everything's a challenge
0:04:36 > 0:04:40and there are just some things that I can't do by myself.
0:04:40 > 0:04:41This is how I clean my eye.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45Simple stuff like itching...
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Thanks, great.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51..washing...
0:04:51 > 0:04:52I can't see!
0:04:55 > 0:04:57..dressing...
0:04:58 > 0:05:00..and, er, other stuff too.
0:05:02 > 0:05:03I have to go to the bathroom.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05- Are you serious?- Yes.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09And no! You can't come with me!
0:05:10 > 0:05:14There's nothing straightforward about my life, but is anyone's?
0:05:14 > 0:05:17MUSIC: "Kiss You" by One Direction
0:05:17 > 0:05:19# We can go out any day any night
0:05:19 > 0:05:21# I'll take you there... #
0:05:21 > 0:05:23I say think positive!
0:05:23 > 0:05:27You'll get a whole lot more out of life than if you just mope around.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29This is my bedroom...
0:05:29 > 0:05:30Awkward.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Because being born this way does have its advantages.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Photos over here. The best one is the One Direction one.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40- Me and my friend Murin, we met One Direction.- Have you a favourite?
0:05:40 > 0:05:42Uh, I like them all.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44You can't really have a favourite.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46They're individuals.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48They're not dogs, you don't have a favourite.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Like, Niall is Irish so he's savage straightaway.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Harry is ridiculously good looking.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Louis is hilarious. Zane is ridiculously good looking
0:05:58 > 0:06:01and Liam seems really nice. So they're all just perfect!
0:06:02 > 0:06:04I'm a teenage girl!
0:06:04 > 0:06:06# ..And let me kiss you... #
0:06:08 > 0:06:11And teenage girls have to go to school, no special treatment for me.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Booo!
0:06:14 > 0:06:15Is this your school uniform?
0:06:15 > 0:06:20This is only part of it. I just wear the T-shirt bit.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Well, I go as close as possible.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25So this is the wine jacket,
0:06:25 > 0:06:27I'm wearing grey pants and a blue shirt underneath.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36Time for you to meet my friends.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I've been going to school with this lot since I was three.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Oh, no! Here's when they're going to talk about me.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Don't say anything embarrassing, please!
0:06:45 > 0:06:49There's always a laugh. There's never a dull moment with Joanne.
0:06:49 > 0:06:50She's actually crazy.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56She doesn't care what anyone else thinks. She'll speak her mind.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58You don't know what's next with Joanne.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00She's capable of doing anything.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03LAUGHTER AND CHATTER
0:07:06 > 0:07:09I've known her since about four or five,
0:07:09 > 0:07:13we've been friends for ages now and she's a really good friend, like.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19I don't view her as any different to any of my other friends or anything.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21#LAUGHTER!
0:07:22 > 0:07:26Could you wait for me, like? Friendship, true friend right there.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33So x minus 4 is guaranteed to be a factor. You divide it in...
0:07:35 > 0:07:36Maths is my worst subject.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38But at least with a film crew,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41you get to see your teacher squirm in front of the camera.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44#awkward for him!
0:07:44 > 0:07:47The curve looks right.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50At the end of the day, my chauffeur arrives to pick me up.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Here she comes now. Beep beep!
0:07:52 > 0:07:56I guess it must be harder for my mum than I sometimes realise.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58There's days that I'd love to see
0:07:58 > 0:08:04Joanne being able to run up them steps or run down them steps
0:08:04 > 0:08:06in the morning going into school,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09but that will never happen I suppose.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14At school, I feel pretty much the same as everyone else.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17- What's for dinner? - What do you want?- Food!
0:08:17 > 0:08:19But not everyone sees it that way.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Especially when I go out of my town.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23# When I walk in a spot
0:08:23 > 0:08:25# This is what I see
0:08:25 > 0:08:28# Everybody stops and they staring at me... #
0:08:28 > 0:08:29Hi! Hi, how are ya? Hi!
0:08:29 > 0:08:32There are only seven people in the world like me,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35so I'm pretty easy to spot.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38In fact, I'm a bit of a local celebrity!
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Thanks very much!
0:08:41 > 0:08:43It depends on the person really.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46If they're a young person, they'll just talk to you for ages
0:08:46 > 0:08:49about how great you are, which is hilarious.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52And if they're, like, kind of, middle-aged and kind of old,
0:08:52 > 0:08:57then they'll just tell you you're a real inspiration and all that.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00My friends think it's hilarious, so you know...
0:09:02 > 0:09:05- Hi.- Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you too.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09I'm so going to have like proper fans when I'm older.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Like, die hard fans. Like, One Direction fans.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16I want to have them all, like, crowding streets,
0:09:16 > 0:09:18shutting down the place and everything.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22Like, I want to hear on the news, "Joanne O'Riordan shuts down Dublin."
0:09:27 > 0:09:30I've appeared on telly quite a few times...
0:09:32 > 0:09:33Tonight, I'm the guest of honour
0:09:33 > 0:09:36at a dinner for the local girls' football team.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39There's a really hot guy going -
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Aidan Walsh, a famous Irish footballer.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44He'll be handing out the prizes so I've got to look good.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46#no pressure!
0:09:46 > 0:09:48I don't really follow fashion that much, like.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52I'm into tracksuits and all that jazz.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Casual...but I kinda have to dress up for tonight.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Like, I go round the shop once and then I see what I like.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Then I go back around and pick it up and see if there's any extra bits,
0:10:01 > 0:10:03then I leave the shop!
0:10:03 > 0:10:06I don't try things on, I always wait until I get home.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10I don't believe in trying things on, I'm just like, "Ah, it looks fine."
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Yeah, this is nice, yeah. Success!
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Thank God I don't have feet, I'd cost my dad a fortune!
0:10:18 > 0:10:22I'm obsessed with shoes, I don't know why. Oh, well...
0:10:24 > 0:10:28When you've got no limbs, putting on your make-up is a bit tricky.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32So I rope in local beautician Katrina to put my face on.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Well, I'm a girl and I always have to look good.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39- Isn't it nice? It's Rihanna.- Is that Rihanna?- Yeah, it's really nice.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42When I'm actually going out - out, as in to social events -
0:10:42 > 0:10:45- I always do myself up. - It's nice to look nice.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Yeah, it's a girly thing.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Being in a wheelchair can be a bit of a faff for me,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53which means I don't get to go out as much as my friends.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55I'd love to be able to, like, go out with, like, everyone.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59I have to, like, ask already in advance, maybe a week in advance,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02"Can I go out?" Just to make sure everything's in place.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Like, I'd love to just get up and just go out.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06- OK?- Yep, perfect!
0:11:10 > 0:11:12My parents really support me.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15They often come with me when I go out.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18But it would be nice to go just with my friends a bit more.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Go away, Mum!
0:11:21 > 0:11:25Tonight's so special. Here's Aidan, isn't he hot?!
0:11:25 > 0:11:27And thanks very much for inviting me here.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30It was a great honour to be asked to Drumtariffe.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33CHEERING
0:11:33 > 0:11:35I'm going to start because Aidan will punch me.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39As you can tell, I love talking.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Last year, I was invited to New York
0:11:41 > 0:11:45to give a speech about disability to the United Nations.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Joanne O'Riordan and being invited
0:11:49 > 0:11:53to New York the week of my 16th birthday is simply unbelievable.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55I was well nervous in New York,
0:11:55 > 0:11:56but tonight I'm even more nervous.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00There's Aidan! He's next to me! Is it a kiss?!
0:12:04 > 0:12:06CHEERING
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Thanks very much, thanks.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Mark, you got that?
0:12:12 > 0:12:17It's all good fun, but sometimes I wish I could play football too.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19I love sport.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21I suppose I do wish I was playing football, but in the end,
0:12:21 > 0:12:25like, every team that I follow really kinda gets me involved,
0:12:25 > 0:12:27so that's kinda nice in the end, so.
0:12:27 > 0:12:28I suppose I'm always kind of involved,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30regardless, off the field or on the field.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36It's not as if I'm going to kick a football any time soon,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39but there is one sport that requires a skill that I'm really good at -
0:12:39 > 0:12:41sitting down!
0:12:47 > 0:12:50The British Olympic bobsleigh team
0:12:50 > 0:12:52want to get their sport into the Paralympics
0:12:52 > 0:12:54and they've asked me to be the guinea pig,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57which is great, because I love going fast.
0:12:59 > 0:13:00They don't practise in the snow,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03they train on a special track in Bath in south-west England.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05And Piers Martin runs the team.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08I'm told that you love all of the speed
0:13:08 > 0:13:11so I reckon you're going to be fine with all this.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Bobsleigh's not for everybody. Some people look at it and think,
0:13:14 > 0:13:16"I'm really excited about doing it."
0:13:16 > 0:13:19And then they get in and as they start to pick up the speed,
0:13:19 > 0:13:22they get scared about it. Now I'm counting on you not to be like this.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25I'm told that you love doing all these kind of things.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Do you ever, like, go over the sides or...?
0:13:28 > 0:13:30No, because you're sliding around,
0:13:30 > 0:13:33sometimes the bobsleigh can flip over. But what we're on is,
0:13:33 > 0:13:37we're on a training sled which is going down on rails.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40Oh, look! More muscly men!
0:13:40 > 0:13:42The plan is to start on the training sled
0:13:42 > 0:13:45and, if I keep my nerve - I hope -
0:13:45 > 0:13:48then I'll get a chance to race with the actual Olympic team.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Am I the only person with no limbs that's ever done it?
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Yes, this is a first. Well, as far as I know, yes.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55And the best thing about it is
0:13:55 > 0:13:58we're trying to get adaptive bobsleigh into the Paralympic Games.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01So this could be the start of something.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04If this all works and we can get it in the Paralympic Games,
0:14:04 > 0:14:06you could be one of our Paralympic athletes.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09So this could be the start of an even better journey.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16If this helps the campaign to get bobsleigh to the Paralympics, I'm in!
0:14:16 > 0:14:18Who wouldn't want an Olympic medal?
0:14:22 > 0:14:25But I think my family are a bit worried about it.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27It'll be like Fast And Furious in a bobsleigh.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30- Yeah, and?- And what?
0:14:30 > 0:14:33- What do you think? - Yeah, I think it would be cool.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36I'm not allowed on roller coasters because I'm too small,
0:14:36 > 0:14:38so I might as well go on a bobsleigh!
0:14:38 > 0:14:42- What if you fall over like in Cool Runnings?- I'm crippled for life!
0:14:42 > 0:14:44LAUGHTER
0:14:44 > 0:14:46What did you say?
0:14:46 > 0:14:49I said, I'm crippled for life!
0:14:52 > 0:14:55My family are great. They're really protective of me.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57And let's face it,
0:14:57 > 0:15:00I've had to depend on them a lot and that's what made us closer.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12With their help, I've fought to make my life like anyone else's.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15But I'm 17 now and I can't live with them for ever.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19I mean, I love going to concerts
0:15:19 > 0:15:23but I've never been to one of them without a member of my family.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25So I plan to change all that.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30I'm off to an amazing gig in Dublin with my friend Eleanor.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34My brother's helped me to prepare.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36Steven, open the wardrobe.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38We did get a really nice top for her in New York.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41He had to ask someone my size and we asked this random woman
0:15:41 > 0:15:43and he just picked me up out of the chair
0:15:43 > 0:15:45and he was like, "What size is she?"
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Look at all her jerseys! She's obsessed with football.
0:15:49 > 0:15:50- Jerseys.- Look.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55- No, there's more!- Cork...
0:15:55 > 0:15:57That's New York. That's Down.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59That's Barcelona. That's Dublin.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01That's Cork. That's signed!
0:16:02 > 0:16:03There's more in here.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06That's New York Yankees, that's Cork,
0:16:06 > 0:16:08that's Barcelona, that's Portugal.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Are you a huge football fan?
0:16:10 > 0:16:11Yeah, this is AC Milan.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13This is an old Brazilian...
0:16:13 > 0:16:15This is a compulsive disorder!
0:16:20 > 0:16:24Anyway, we're all packed and ready for our big night out.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27My mother's dropping us off at the station. Here we come now!
0:16:28 > 0:16:30We're going to the train station
0:16:30 > 0:16:34because we're going to Dublin to see Rihanna. Whoop, whoop!
0:16:34 > 0:16:41I like to see Joanne growing up and becoming independent.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44I suppose it's like all our children -
0:16:44 > 0:16:47the first time you let go, like, is the hardest.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49This is us now going on the train.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51But for Joanne, I'm happy.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53Let's get mentally prepared.
0:16:55 > 0:16:56Bye! Love you, Anne, bye!
0:17:00 > 0:17:04When we've been to concerts in the past, we've met loads of celebrities.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08We have met Jedward. Eleanor has met Olly Murs like, four times.
0:17:08 > 0:17:09- Is it four?- Three.- Three times.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12I thought it was four, awkward, never mind.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14I've met One Direction, I've met Westlife,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18- I've met Bono, which Eleanor is very jealous of, aren't ya?- Totally.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Oh, Bono! But you're more professional than I am about it.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26I ask. I find contact details and I ask them
0:17:26 > 0:17:29and I make the whole "I'm in a wheelchair" plea.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34The sob story. It works.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38In case you're hoping
0:17:38 > 0:17:41that this will be a great meeting between me and my favourite pop star,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44I did ask, but Rihanna said no. Boo!
0:17:44 > 0:17:47But I do get to meet some of my own fans.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50This is what it'll be like when I'm famous.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Thanks very much, bye! Mark, did you pay them?
0:17:53 > 0:17:58- And they're actually your own age! - I haven't seen that before.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01What age is your fan base normally?
0:18:01 > 0:18:0282.
0:18:02 > 0:18:03Or 12.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06There's a range.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12- There's no in-between.- Yeah, there's no in-between!
0:18:12 > 0:18:14That's a rare moment.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17# She can't sing
0:18:17 > 0:18:19# She can't dance
0:18:19 > 0:18:22# But who cares She walks like Rihanna
0:18:22 > 0:18:26# She can't sing, she can't dance
0:18:26 > 0:18:29# But who cares... #
0:18:29 > 0:18:33There are some downsides for me being in a wheelchair.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36# ..Have you seen that girl Have you seen her... #
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Big crowds are a pain.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40At my level, you're just staring at endless backsides.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42Move! Move out of my way!
0:18:45 > 0:18:48At least I get my own special entrance
0:18:48 > 0:18:50and it's all worth it in the end.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53MUSIC: "Umbrella" by Rihanna
0:18:53 > 0:18:56# I'll be here for ever
0:18:56 > 0:18:58# I'll always be your friend
0:18:58 > 0:19:01# Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end
0:19:01 > 0:19:03# Now it's raining more than ever... #
0:19:03 > 0:19:07I don't think Eleanor is going to win any prizes as a camera person,
0:19:07 > 0:19:11especially since we're miles away from Rihanna, but this is great!
0:19:11 > 0:19:13# ..Under my umbrella
0:19:13 > 0:19:15# Ella, ella, ella... #
0:19:15 > 0:19:18It probably was the best night of my life.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Everything just went off, like, perfect like.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22The atmosphere was just incredible.
0:19:22 > 0:19:27You couldn't even just sit down, you just had to get up and go dancing.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32Yeah, I suppose I felt like I gained a bit more independence.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Eleanor went, I think, as well
0:19:34 > 0:19:36for one of the first times without her mum.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40It was pretty outrageous for the both of us like, it was just so cool.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44BIRDS SINGING
0:19:48 > 0:19:51It's safe to say that I'm not a morning person.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Especially when I've had a late night.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Get out of my face then, you're annoying me. Go away!
0:20:04 > 0:20:07You're so difficult.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11Morning, Joanne. What's the plan of action for today?
0:20:11 > 0:20:14I've no idea. I'm just up.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16What's your usual routine in the morning?
0:20:16 > 0:20:19I just sit here and don't talk to anyone and eat.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Well, I eat very slowly, so...
0:20:25 > 0:20:28We've got a busy couple of days ahead.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32The time has come to fly to England for my big bobsleigh adventure.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38My family are sports mad and there's no way they'll want to miss this.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Team O'Riordan are about to meet Team GB.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46# The sun goes down The stars come out...
0:20:46 > 0:20:49# And all that counts is here and now
0:20:49 > 0:20:53# My universe will never be the same
0:20:53 > 0:20:56# I'm glad you came
0:20:56 > 0:21:00# I'm glad you came Woah-oh-oh... #
0:21:00 > 0:21:02We're heading to Bath
0:21:02 > 0:21:05to the headquarters of the British Olympic bobsleigh team
0:21:05 > 0:21:07to help them with their campaign for the Paralympics.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12It's the first test run of the day
0:21:12 > 0:21:16and Lee, the head coach, sets them off. Go, team, go!
0:21:19 > 0:21:21These are actually the guys
0:21:21 > 0:21:24who will represent Great Britain in the Olympics.
0:21:24 > 0:21:25Oooooohhhh!
0:21:27 > 0:21:29This is where the team practise their starts.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35The bungee cord stops them from running off the end of the track -
0:21:35 > 0:21:36that would be awkward.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Final safety check!
0:21:42 > 0:21:44And time for my mother to chillax.
0:21:44 > 0:21:45Calm down, Anne.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49I'm nervous, to be honest. But, um, I'll get over it, so I will.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52It's time to meet the team!
0:21:52 > 0:21:54My name's Jacko, I'm the driver.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57- Hi, Jacko.- This is Stu. - Hi! How are you doing?
0:21:57 > 0:22:01- Hi, Stu. I love the way he walked up. - Yeah, stumbling!- He sits behind me.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04- Then you've got big Bruce.- Hello!
0:22:04 > 0:22:07- Hi, Bruce. I was looking at your muscles.- Oh, thank you!
0:22:07 > 0:22:10And then you've got Joel, he's at the back of the sled.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Hi, you're the smallest.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Yeah, I'm the little one, I have to get in and tuck in behind them all.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17- You're the cute one!- Thank you!
0:22:19 > 0:22:23Now these boys, they are world-class sprinters.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26They'll push the sled to nearly 40km per hour
0:22:26 > 0:22:29before they jump in.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46I hope they're not expecting me to do all that pushing and running.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48I like their little routine.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52Right, so what we're going to do is we're going to progress to that
0:22:52 > 0:22:54but, firstly, we're going to go in this -
0:22:54 > 0:22:56our single-man training trolley.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59It's not all for my benefit.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04We're here to test whether this could work as a Paralympic sport.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06The progression is to try and get adapted bobsleigh
0:23:06 > 0:23:08and as we know, we've got...
0:23:08 > 0:23:11There's many, many servicemen have lost limbs
0:23:11 > 0:23:14and who are able to do adapted bobsleigh.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16And the progression from this is to show that,
0:23:16 > 0:23:20if we can get Joanne in a sled and get down,
0:23:20 > 0:23:22even though we're on a push track, then,
0:23:22 > 0:23:25obviously you're almost the extreme,
0:23:25 > 0:23:27then going from the extreme,
0:23:27 > 0:23:32we can work back and hopefully get teams into the adapted games.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Time to get the training sled into position.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37These guys are seriously quick.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42The fastest we've travelled in a real bobsleigh in the four-man
0:23:42 > 0:23:45on a track in Canada was 155km an hour
0:23:45 > 0:23:47which is about 92mph.
0:23:47 > 0:23:48At the very bottom of the track,
0:23:48 > 0:23:51that's when you've built up all your speed.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53No backing out now.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56- Oh, he did do it better.- Does that feel OK?- It feels good.- Good.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05- You happy there?- I'm quite nervous.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Wooh! # Joanne's got a bobsleigh team. #
0:24:08 > 0:24:10You need to count us in, Joanne.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Maybe I'll say three and then we'll all go?
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Are you saying three or tree?
0:24:15 > 0:24:19I say tree, like as in a tree in the back yard.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21But counting isn't one, two, tree.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Shrub...bush...tree...
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Aaagh!
0:24:38 > 0:24:40Just when I think it's all over...
0:24:41 > 0:24:43..hit the rewind button.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54You enjoyed it?
0:24:54 > 0:24:56I love it! That's gas!
0:24:58 > 0:25:00And that was a slow one!
0:25:00 > 0:25:03You know, all I can hear is you screaming.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07Aaaaahhhh! I'm a girl at the end of the day.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11Cushion.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Now it's time for the real test.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16The proper bobsleigh with all four guys pushing,
0:25:16 > 0:25:18just like in the Olympics.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22This is going to be fast.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37The more people in the sled, the faster it goes.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39#exciting times.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02It was really good! It was really, like, fast and it was really fun.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04The bungee part was probably the best part
0:26:04 > 0:26:06because you think you're going to just crash into that
0:26:06 > 0:26:10and come to a sudden stop, but then you're launched back up the hill.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Oh, yeah, I think she's lovely, lovely! She's a bit gobby, like.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16She's a very inspirational young lady, definitely.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19As the lads said, she's very gobby. She holds her own.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24Um, she was a good laugh, very good and got stuck in.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26# I'm on top of the world
0:26:26 > 0:26:28# I'm on top of the world... #
0:26:33 > 0:26:37I think that she will remember this for the rest of her life.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40# ..I'm on top of the world... #
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Yeah, I suppose at 92mph, barring my mother driving,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46that's probably the fastest I've ever been.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50My mother always gets over emotional at times like this.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Joanne was born on the Wednesday morning
0:26:53 > 0:26:56and I can still see myself standing at the side of the bed,
0:26:56 > 0:26:59looking down at Joanne thinking, "What will you ever do?"
0:26:59 > 0:27:03So, I mean, this is a big achievement.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08For me, it's much simpler. What's next?
0:27:08 > 0:27:12I'd love to definitely try it on an icy hill and go from side to side.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16I'd love to do it like that. Maybe we'll crash the Olympics next year?!
0:27:21 > 0:27:24I've always known that you've got to make the best of life.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29If you're determined and you have a wonderful family
0:27:29 > 0:27:32and friends to support you, anything's possible.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Especially if you're like me - born lucky.