TO HAVE AND TO GOLD

GB track stars flying off to the city of love on medal mission before heading home to wed.

- ALAN SMITH

THE first time Nathan Maguire met his soonto-be wife, he asked for an autograph before throwing it in the bin.

Retelling the story brings a smile to Hannah Cockroft's face as ParalympicGB's golden couple prepare for a dizzying few weeks.

Not long after becoming a star of London 2012, Cockroft was the big-name guest at a youth-talent event to which Maguire was invited.

Little did they know that, a few years later, when Maguire joined the British set-up for Rio 2016, they would form a friendship that quickly blossomed into lifelong commitment "She was there to give an inspiring speech," Maguire, 27, recalls, just a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "I was one of the 20 lucky ones selected to meet her and I EAT got her to sign my accreditation pass.