The 2012 Paralympic rivalries too good to miss

There are so many great athletes to see at the London 2012 Paralympic Games that it’s a job to boil it down to a few choice recommendations.

However, here are a few which should really delight when the games are in full swing next year.

First, Oscar Pistorius in the T44 100m. Obvious really, but perhaps not quite for the reason you’re thinking.

He’s set to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012 and for sure this guy is amazing.

But I’ve picked the 100m because at the World Championships the South African was beaten by Jerome Singleton of the USA. It could be a showdown every bit as sparky as Usain Bolt v Tyson Gay.

The likely 2012 competition dates for Oscar Pistorius are: T44 classification – 100m round 1 (5 September), 100m final (6 September), 200m round 1 (1 September), 200m final (2September), 400m round 1 (7 September), 400m final (8 September).

Read more: click here to see the daily Paralympic schedule

The swimming team will most likely be the medal-winning engine room of ParalympicsGB, particularly in classes S6 to S10 and S14.

Be sure to catch Ellie Simmonds in the S6 100 Freestyle. A fierce rivalry has developed between her and Mirjam de Koning-Peper of Netherlands since the Beijing Paralympics.

At the European Championships in Berlin, Koning-Pepper won the gold by 0.14sec which hurt Simmonds. She’ll fight tooth and nail to make sure it doesn’t happen in front of the home crowd.

Likely 2012 competition dates for Ellie Simmonds: S6 classification – 50m freestyle (4 September), 100m Freestyle (8 September), 400m freestyle (1 September), 50m butterfly (7 September).

Two other GB greats in the pool are David Roberts and Matt Walker. Be sure to watch the Brits go head-to-head in the S7 50 Freestyle.

Watch the video: Paralympic footballers were 'naive' about the sport

(David Roberts of Great Britain wins the Men’s 400m Freestyle S7 Final during the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games – Getty)

Historically Roberts has had the upper hand at the big meets but in the last 12 months the tide has started to turn in Walker’s favour.

Throw Matt Levy (AUS), Lantz Lamback (USA) and Shiyun Pan (CHN) into the mix as well and it will be an absolute belter.

Possible 2012 competition dates: S7 classification: 50m freestyle (4 September – am is heats, pm is final), 100m freestyle (3 September, am is heats, pm is final), 400m freestyle (6 September, am is heats, pm is final).

Read more: Channel 4's coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics

The GB Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team was on sparkling form at the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.

It’s worth keeping an eye out for the moves and passes of Helen Freeman who could be the lynchpin in guiding GB to victory. The wheelchair basketball competition begins on 30 August.

Jason Smyth of Ireland is the last of this crop of picks for the London 2012 Paralympics.

The T12 sprinter has very limited sight and just witnessing the sheer guts of someone running at 10 metres per second whilst only able to see about one metre in front of them is quite something.

You can follow Giles Long on Twitter @gileslong or visit his website