For the past week and a half we’ve been in awe of the incredible performances of our athletes at the London 2012 Paralympics. But there’s another incredible athlete defying the odds closer to home.

RELATED: Women We Love - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff

Deb Roach, the 2012 Ultimate Pole Champion, was born with one arm.

“Growing up with one arm was pretty horrible. I was picked on incessantly. I was teased every day, every day. My memories and my experiences were of isolation and rejection," Roach told the ABC’s 7.30 Report on Tuesday night.

RELATED: Women We Love - Jennifer Grey From Dirty Dancing

“I wanted to get up on that stage and show I was at least as good as those other able-bodied girls. That I wasn’t repulsive, that my body wasn’t disgusting and didn’t need to be hidden. I was just as worthy of expression and display, and I was just as sexy as they were.”