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Raise Your Game: You're a great role model for young girls. How can we get more of them involved in sport?

Tasha Danvers-Smith: I think we need more people, like myself, going out to schools and chatting with the girls. We need to let them know that there's something else out there that they can do.

I think the main thing with young girls today is that they don't have things out there that really excite them and inspire them to do something great. I plan on doing something with young girls in the future. I feel there's a sense of hopelessness with a lot of girls that I meet. I want them to see that you can be something. It doesn't have to be the best athlete in the world. If you want to be a hairdresser or you want to make clothes, or whatever it is - just be the best that you can be.

Everybody has a talent, whether it's talking to people, being the best mum or the best athlete. It's your job to find out what that is and to find out how you can share it with the world.

RYG: Has it taken a lot of hard work to get to your level?

TDS: Definitely. It's hard work but I love doing it. That's how you know you've found what it is that you're meant to do. When things are hard work and you hate doing it, maybe that's not what you should be doing. If you find something that you enjoy working at, that's something you should continue.

You have to be dedicated and you have to understand it's not always going to be easy. I've had some really bad days when I've fallen, but I rise again. I come back and I keep doing what I do. I might not be the fastest on the planet right now. I might not be running times like Sally Gunnell used to, but I know I'll continue to do it until I feel I can't. That day hasn't come yet.

RYG: Who motivates you? Who keeps you going?

TDS: You have to be able to keep yourself going. When other people fail to fill that gap you have to be able to say to yourself, 'Come on Tash, get up and do it'. It's not going to happen unless you can motivate yourself. I talk positively to myself and try to surround myself with positive people.

If the people around you are negative and don't encourage you to go after your dreams and goals, maybe you need to find new friends. Some people will say 'That's a silly idea, of course you can't do that.' You need to say 'You know what, I know I can do it.' If you feel that inside then go for it.

RYG: What have you gained from sport?

TDS: I've gained so much. I've been able to get a different kind of education. I've been able to go to the states and study music, something that I was very interested in. I've learnt how to socialise, how to be dedicated, and how to keep going even when things don't look good. You have to be able to go through all these challenges and come out on top.

No matter what happens, even if I lost a leg tomorrow, I'd be proud of what I've achieved. I define what my success is. My success is being in this sport, being dedicated to it, and seeing what happens. That's success for me.

RYG: What advice would you give to young people wanting to follow in your footsteps?

TDS: When I first started athletics I wasn't always first. I didn't even run the hurdles when I first started. I started out doing the 100 metres and then I went into the pentathlon. I wasn't winning anything, but I kept going because I liked it.

If I'd listened to people back then who said 'You're probably not going to do very well in this sport, go and do something else', where would I be? I think you need to keep trying different things. Go and try art... try running. When you find something you really like, just keep doing it. Even if you're not winning, who cares? If you like it, do it.