Paralympic canoeist Jack Eyers eyes gold in Paris

Personal trainer and model Jack Eyers has already won two World Championship titles in Para canoe

Para canoeist Jack Eyers is hoping to add a Paralympic medal to his achievements when he takes to the water in Paris.

The 35-year-old from Bournemouth, who is an above-the-knee amputee, has already won European and World gold.

The Para canoe heats begin on 6 September at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

The personal trainer, model and former Mr England said the lead-up to a major competition was always harder than the race itself.

He said: "When you're sat on that start line and you're just about to race 200m - I've done that a thousand times, that's the bit I'm good at.

"The bit I have to work quite hard on is the lead up to that moment - where you have these intrusive thoughts or feelings of anxiety or nerves - and dealing with that only comes with experience.

"The more you can talk to yourself in a way that reminds you that you're good at this and you've been selected for a reason, you're going to be OK - just enjoy the moment."

Jack Eyers was crowned Mr England in 2017

Interviewed by blind footballer Toby Addison ahead of the games, Eyers said "outspoken and successful" role models were key to the perception of disability sport.

He said it was important to hear about "the sacrifices and pain of what they've had to go through to get to where they are".

"It's a very different journey but there's just as much emotion involved and I think people buy into emotion."

In 2017, Eyers became the first amputee to be crowned Mr England and he has also enjoyed a successful modelling career with Models of Diversity, an agency focused on body diversity in the fashion industry.

He said: "Everything that I've set out to succeed with, I've managed to achieve in my own personal way.

"I want to continue working with people living with impairments and help them to explore who they really are through sport, fitness and exercise."