Phillip Eaglesham, from Dungannon, contracted Q Fever while serving in Afghanistan.
The illness resulted in him losing power in his body, confining him to a wheelchair.
He said he was determined to take control and recently competed in the Paralympic games in Rio.
He told Q radio how it started:
He wants to break the stigma surrounding wheelchairs.
Woman rescued from house in Saintfield following petrol bomb attack
By Rebecca Black (Press Association)
More than 100 firefighters tackle Omagh industrial fire as casualty airlifted
By Claudia Savage (Press Association)
MLAs hit out at ‘Executive chaos’ after U-turn on special school summer schemes
By Grainne Ni Aodha (Press Association)
Delivery driver forced at gunpoint to take object to police station
By Jonathan McCambridge (Press Association)
Elderly woman dies after road collision in Armagh
By Rebecca Black (Press Association)
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