Top 50 Moments of 2017: No. 22 – Anu touches hearts around the world

In 2017 a British schoolgirl called Anu captivated the world when a video of her and her friends became a social media sensation in the lead up to the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017.

"Wow!" a little girl shouts, as another girl hugs Anu.

"Is that your new pink leg?" another asks.

The girls then start running around the school playground holding hands, testing out the new running blade.

This endearing video, captured by BBC West Midlands, went viral, garnering more than 12 million video views in just a few weeks.

The overwhelming public reaction to the clip comes in at No. 22 on the International Paralympic Committee’s Top 50 Moments of 2017.

"We've never had such a wonderful reaction to something we've filmed," BBC Midlands said in Facebook post, adding that it has received hundreds of messages about Anu.

“It makes me run faster and do my street dancing faster,” said Anu, whose leg was amputated shortly after she was born.

She received a new leg thanks to a funding injection given to the National Health Service, which ensures 500 children have access to prosthetics so that they can enjoy sport.

The heart-warming clip also left a huge impression with British Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox, who visited Anu at her school together with the London 2017 World Para Athletics Championships mascot Whizbee.

“When I saw her little video of her running around, it was the cutest thing ever,” Cox told the BCC.

“For little Anu being able to see people like us being able to get involved in sport and just show her that she’s able to achieve the same thing, I think it’s a great thing.”

The moment was also nominated the Laureus Best Sporting Moment in October 2017.

The countdown of the IPC’s Top 50 Moments continues until 31 December.