Wiltshire’s multi-Paralympic swimming medallist Stephanie Millward has been named MS Inspiration of the Year at the Multiple Sclerosis Society Awards.

The 31-year-old former Corsham School pupil – who won five medals including four silvers at the 2012 Games - was presented with the prize yesterday at a ceremony in London, from another Olympian, figure skater Robin Cousins.

Stephanie, from Box, broke the 100m backstroke British record when she was 15 and hoped to qualify for the 2000 Olympics before she was diagnosed with MS at the age of 17.

Despite her diagnosis, Stephanie continued to pursue her dream of becoming a successful swimmer. She competed at the Beijing Paralympics and has also swum at other events around the world.

Stephanie Millward said: ‘It’s incredible; I didn’t expect to win at all. Winning the Paralympics was all about a lot of training and hard work, winning ‘Inspiration of the Year’ is about hoping to motivate, hoping to inspire. Winning the Paralympics and ‘Inspiration of the Year’ are both truly fantastic.’

The MS Society Awards were created to reward individuals and groups for their hard work in changing lives for people affected by MS.

The MS Society Awards 2012, hosted by TV personality Kate Silverton, were held in the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington.

They attracted a number of famous faces including Oritse Williams from the band JLS, food critic and writer Jay Rayner and weatherman Alex Deakin.