Swimmer, 18, eyes up medals in first Paralympics

Eighteen-year-old Will Ellard has high medal hopes at the Paris Paralympic Games

An 18-year-old has been preparing to take on the world's toughest competition at his first Paralympic Games.

Will Ellard, from Beccles, Suffolk, is in Paris to compete in the S14 intellectually impaired classification in swimming.

Ellard had a successful international debut in 2023, which saw him win several medals. He now hopes to secure his first Paralympic medal as he prepares to compete across five events, including the 200m freestyle.

His mum and dad, Lorna and Dave Ellard, said their son qualifying was an "unbelievable achievement".

Ellard will compete across five events, including the 200m freestyle

"It feels a little bit surreal at the moment but easier now we're in Paris, with Will, knowing that we're quite close to him," Mr Ellard told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"We just can't believe he's got this far.

"There's so many people who have been involved in his journey.

"It's an unbelievable achievement, he's very lucky but he's very lucky through dedication and years and years of hard work."

Ellard will be competing in the S14 100m butterfly, 200m freestyle, mixed 4x100m freestyle relay, the 200m medley and the 100m backstroke.

Mrs Ellard added that while they were all nervous, their son would be taking each day as it comes.

"Will keeps everything close to him - he doesn't like to brag at all," she explained.

"He wouldn't do that, he's very humble, he just takes one day at a time.

"At the moment he sees it as he's just at training and tomorrow is where he's got to perform."

Ellard made his major international debut last year at the World Championships

Ellard, according to his parents, was not a "natural" swimmer when he first got into Bungay swimming pool at a very young age.

However he came to love it and began swimming for the Beccles Kingfishers Swimming Club before moving to St Felix Swimming Club in Southwold where he remains.

Ellard's coach, Nick Thompson, said the road to the Paralympics had been "long" but the swimmer had "done a great job to qualify".

"He's done some performances that put him in a really good place," he added.

"We'll have to wait and see over the next week or so.

"Last year he won medals at the World Championships, that was his first international meet.

"He's raced internationally for Great Britain a few times this year, and it's all just that exposure to international competition racing on the biggest stages."

When asked how he might feel if his son comes home with a medal, Mr Ellard said: "I think we'll be ecstatic.

"It'll be such a massive relief after years of hard work and it will be such a proud moment, not just for us, but everyone who has been involved in his journey."