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Brothers who grew up to be their own biggest rivals: Sam and Oliver Hynd to go head to head for gold in 400m swimming freestyle

Published: 18:30 EST, 28 August 2012 | Updated: 03:24 EST, 29 August 2012

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Any parent would be proud to watch a child compete in the Paralympics.

But that pride will be doubled for Helen and Darrell Hynd – whose two disabled sons are both competing for their country.

And with their sons, Sam and Oliver, both serious contenders for gold in the 400m swimming freestyle, the only dilemma the couple will face is deciding which child to cheer for.

Brotherly rivalry: GB Paralympic swimming brothers Sam and Oliver Hynd at the 2011 IPC European Championships in Berlin

Playmates: Brothers Sam, aged four, and Oliver Hynd, aged one, have grown up swimming together

Mrs Hynd, 49, said: ‘It’s really quite scary when they are racing against each other. I get extremely nervous. My husband and I shout Team Hynd rather than their names. It makes it all a bit simpler.

‘We would love them both to be able to win, but we just want them both to do well.

‘It makes us extremely proud to have two sons competing at that level. It’s been a long and often bumpy journey for both of them. The path has not been easy, but we’ve got there.’

Sam, 21, and Oliver, 17, have neuromuscular myopathy, a degenerative condition that severely weakens their legs.

They were both competitive from a young age, but their condition meant they were unable to take part in land sports.

Inspirational: Sam, aged six, and Oliver, aged two, have both worked incredibly hard to make it to the Paralympics

Making a splash: Sam, aged seven, and Oliver, aged four, started swimming as a form of physiotherapy

Instead their mother took them to the swimming pool near their home in Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, as a form of physiotherapy.

From there they progressed to their local swimming club and, after a lot of hard graft from the whole family, became international athletes.

Sam won gold in the 400m freestyle in the 2008 Games in Beijing. Oliver made his international debut at the Paralympic European Championship in Berlin last year, where he finished second, behind his big brother.

Oliver also won the 200m individual medley with a new European record time at the championships.

Going for gold: Sam, aged nine, and his younger brother Oliver, aged five, have been competitive since a young age

Swimming to success: Sam, pictured left, with younger brother Oliver at the GB training camp in Majorca earlier this year

Award winners: Sam and Oliver at the 2011 British International Disability Swimming Championships

Swimming to success: Sam, pictured left, with his younger brother Oliver at the GB training camp in Majorca earlier this year and the pair at the 2011 British International Disability Swimming Championships, right

They will face each other again in the 400m freestyle & 200m individual medley in London.

Mrs Hynd was chosen as a torch bearer in the Paralympic flame relay in recognition of the sacrifices she has made helping her children fulfil their dream.

She gave up her job as a nurse to work part-time to help them deal with their condition, while her husband worked as a teacher. Mrs Hynd said: ‘There was a lot of ferrying them back and forth to the pool in the morning and evening and to gym sessions. It’s full-on.’

She added: ‘They are great lads and very close as brothers. But once they get poolside for the race they are purely competitors. When it’s over, they leave it behind. There is no bitterness between them, no matter who has won.’