The 18-year-old competes in both the 100m and 200m and is one of the rising stars on the British Paralympic scene, and an outside bet for this summer's Games.

This week, Roughan was in London to promote the Standard Chartered Great City Race for "Seeing Is Believing", a charity which tackles avoidable blindness, and for which he is an ambassador (pictured).

The five kilometres race will proceed with approximately 6,500 runners on July 12, with £5 ($8/€6) from every entry fee being donated to "Seeing is Believing".

"It is important to make people aware of sight loss and that you can still do normal daily routines [with it]," Roughan told insideworldparasport.

Of the difference athletics has made to his life, Roughan said "it has made a lot of difference".

"It has given me independence of travel, the confidence and the social aspect of meeting new people as well," he explained.

Roughan tried swimming at college, but soon discovered his calling was in athletics.


He claimed three medals at the IBSA World Championships (pictured below) in Colorado, United States, in 2009, as well as bronze medals last year at the IWAS and CPSI National Athletics Championships and 2011 Sainsbury's UK School Games, highlighting his potential.

Previously, Roughan has said he feels more confident in the 100m.

When asked about his 100m record of 11.94sec, Roughan sounded noticeably coy, and said he would love more competition.

"I wish there was more competition to challenge me, so I am hoping someone will come out and take me on and challenge the UK records," he said.

Roughan was also named as one of SportsAid's "16 for 2016" who could shine at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, although there is still the chance of him competing in London this summer.

"I am hoping to qualify, it is a 50-50 chance," he said, looking forward to the trials at the Olympic Stadium in May.

"Last year I did not think I'd even be selected for this event.

"It is a good achievement even making the trials let alone getting through.


"I would feel really good if I had that opportunity [to go to the Paralympics].

"If my time does not come this year, there is always the next one, so hopefully it will come this year."

Roughan seems remarkably level headed for one so young and with so much potential, but insists that he won't set himself "impossible" goals.

"I set goals that are right for me at the moment and hopefully they will come and I can set new ones," he said.

"There is no point chasing after a dream you may not reach.

"You set up realistic goals you can reach and get nearer and nearer to that.

"That is the way I see it – rather than someone else who sees a dream and just goes for it.

"I think it has worked out for me."

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