A mystery virus left Simon Cook disabled and wheelchair-bound nearly ten years ago.

What started with a backache left the assistant golf professional unable to walk.

Over the next few years he lost his family, his job and hit rock bottom, even considering suicide.

But he turned his life around to become a champion shot-putter and now, thanks to his coach Andy Neal and huge amounts of willpower and determination, he has shocked his friends and family and stepped out of his chair.

The paraplegic athlete now hopes to be selected for the British Olympic team and dreams of being able to walk onto the aircraft to Sydney this summer.

"It's marvellous," said Simon, from Chess Brook Road in Henfield, "but this is no miracle cure.

"In 1991, when I was working at Hill Barn in Worthing, I had backache. Within ten minutes I had collapsed and have been unable to walk ever since.

"I was told a mystery virus had attacked my spinal cord. I had some rehabilitation but nothing worked and after several operations I was told to get on with my life in a wheelchair. I really hit rock bottom and did some very silly things but then I decided I had to get a life."

His determination led Simon to the gym and in turn he took up competitive field events with the Blue Star Harriers in Horsham where he met coach Andy Neal.

Simon, 37, said: "18 months ago Andy asked me what, exactly, was stopping me from walking.

"He pointed out that my spinal cord was not broken and that there were no broken bones.I thought it just wasn't going to happen but agreed to give it a go.

"It was then that I began a series of muscle-building exercises to strengthen the muscles in my legs. I got to the stage where I was able to pull myself from my wheelchair and stand if I leaned against a support.

"Recently, I have been taking a few stumbling steps."

Simon has been supported in his efforts to re-find his feet by his fiancee Catherine. She said: "It's been such a shock. I was at the computer keyboard when Simon walked into the room. I was speechless."

Simon also decided to surprise his 13-year-old son, Richard, who said:

"Dad said he had something to show me and when he walked I was so shocked I thought he was wearing someone else's legs!"

Simon believes it is the change in himself since he began sport which has helped him prove the doctors wrong.

He said: "Nine years ago I wasn't able to try and walk but now I know that a lot of it is down to psychology. It is surprising what you can do if you put your mind to it.

"You must have the willpower and determination to get up and try again each time you fall but, after many falls, I can now walk safely for 20 or 30 yards."

Simon is the reigning British Champion shot-putter after he smashed the previous British paraplegic record by 60 centimetres with a throw of ten metres 99 centimetres.

As such, he is still on course to compete in the Paralympics in Sydney later this year -he qualifies as the muscle below his right knee was removed following an earlier illness.

"Walking has literally given me a whole new perspective on life. I feel so tall.

"I no longer have to reach up to open the door and I can now reach to open the windows in my home."

"I can see the dust on top of the cupboards, walk down the street and can reach things in shops, but the biggest difference is I now have a lot further to fall."

Simon's Olympic dreams are being sponsored by Seeboard, which give him £5,000 a year.

Mike James, spokesman for the energy company, said: "We chose to help him after learning that he was sleeping in his car before competitions because he could not afford a hotel.He deserves the success he has earned."

And when Simon returns from Sydney, he has more important steps to take. He said: "I'm going to walk Catherine down the aisle."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.