VIDEO: David Wetherill's dive shot named as a Paralympics highlight
AN athlete's wonder shot has been named at number four in a rundown of the Top 50 Paralympic moments of 2012.
Table tennis star David Wetherill, from Torpoint, is the only British athlete to make it into the Top 10 of the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) pick of 2012.
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David Wetherill's fantastic shot at the Paralympic Games
David's shot, made during his 3-1 defeat to German Thomasz Lusiak, went viral on YouTube, with more than 6.3 million views and counting.
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It also scooped him the Champagne Moment of the Year trophy at The Herald's annual Sports Awards.
The defeat saw him exit the Paralympics just shy of a quarter final place.
David said: "I knew I was in the Top 50 but they didn't tell me where, so I thought I would be at maybe 40 or 30.
"They were counting them down and I was so surprised to be at number four, and to be the only British athlete in the top 50 is unbelievable.
"There were so many great moments.
"Considering I didn't win a medal, the reaction and the respect it's received is amazing and shows the legacy for the Paralympics.
"I went on Eggheads the other day and have done various interviews, since the games it's been crazy."
Twenty-three-year-old David, a Sheffield University graduate, is keen to focus on the sport full time in preparation for the next Paralympic games in Rio in 2016.
"I'm planning to make it to Rio," he added.
"One benefit of that shot is the exposure and sponsorship that will hopefully come out of it.
"I'm hoping to train full time for the next four years with that in mind.
"It seems I'm one of the most famous names to come out of London 2012 but they don't really know my face.
"It's nice to get the recognition for something you train so hard for.
"It's unbelievable, but it's brilliant for table tennis and for the Paralympics."
David was born with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, a bone condition which affects the growth of his long bones and joints.
He has confounded doctors' predictions that he would be in a wheelchair by now, saying that table tennis has helped him defy his condition.
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