Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Paralympics 2024: Stephen Clegg included in 26-strong British swimming team

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“There is still pressure but I don’t have that overwhelming anxiety and stress that I had going to Tokyo and the unfinished business is more of a driver for me,” he adds.

“I have more love for swimming now than I have had at any point in my career which is a nice place to be at 28.”

Clegg, who is based at the University of Edinburgh, will compete in three events in Paris – the S12 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly – having won gold in the backstroke and silver in the other two events at last year’s Worlds in Manchester.

“My top target is three golds but it is a competitive field and it is hard to sit there with certainty and say that, but I am confident we are going to be in a good position,” he says.

“I’m thankful to be in position where I could hopefully get multiple golds but to get on the podium three times would be a remarkable achievement.

“But everything is in a good place. Training has been good all season and my body and head are in a good place. I want to hopefully go and deliver some special performances.”

The squad announcement comes with 100 days to go to the start of the Games and the ParalympicsGB chef de mission Penny Briscoe says it is a big moment.

“This is the start of the building of the team and is a huge morale boost that it is finally kicking off and we can start to see who will be in Paris,” she tells BBC Sport.

“We haven’t usually had to wait this long for the first team members to be announced so the sense of excitement has been building.

“Swimming has a rich history of delivering success at Games and major championships and we have a mix of those with experience alongside some hugely exciting new talent.”

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