Inspirational day for Waipu

When Waipu real estate worker Fiona Southorn is working hard on the roads on her bicycle she's doing it to challenge herself to be the best she can.

A wonderful by-product is that the end results - this time in the form of a Paralympics bronze medal from the London games - are a great inspiration to others.

Southorn picked up New Zealand's first medal of the Paralympic Games in London with a bronze in the cycling C5 individual women's pursuit.

Yesterday, hundreds of people packed Waipu as the town showed its appreciation.

A parade celebrating Southorn's latest achievement kicked off at 1.30pm and the sportswoman was amazed, and humbled, by the support.

"Waipu gives me wonderful support and it's a great to see that [in the parade]," she said.

She said the Paralympics was a great way to focus young people on the challenges faced by the disabled community and how they could overcome those issues.

Southorn said she competes to constantly test herself.

"I'm always pushing myself to get that extra few seconds out of myself ... it's wonderful if people see me as an inspiration."

Northern Advocate photographer Michael Cunningham was at yesterday's welcome home parade.