Paris 2024 Flash Quotes: Para Swimming

Comments from ParalympicsGB swimmers after the evening session.

Brock Whiston

Result: Silver in the women’s SB8 100m breaststroke final in 1:21.04

Age: 27

Hometown: Romford

On the result:

“I’m actually really disappointed, not because I came second but my time. I’ve done a lot faster this season. I don’t really know what happened but I think I went out too slow and had too much work to do on the second 50m.

“Until I look back at the race, I don’t really know what went wrong but I’m disappointed with the time. It wasn’t the best swim but I’m happy with a silver medal.

“I should be proud but I’m quite harsh on myself and I always want to do better. A lot of people still look back at the time I did in 2019 but I’m not that athlete any more, a lot has changed with my impairment. I’m disappointed with the time but I should be happy.”

Bruce Dee

Result: Fourth in men’s SM6 200m individual medley final in 2:43.40 (PB)

Age: 17

Hometown: Desborough

On the performance:

“It’s been great. I’ve structured it really well into this and couldn’t ask for much more. At the start, I just knew I needed to keep doing what I’ve been doing in the past times I’ve done 200 IM.

"I knew on the breaststroke leg that I had a chance to catch up on the guy beside me and I pushed myself. I tried to overtake him in the last 15 metres but it went really well.

“I’m just excited to see what happens next.”

Grace Harvey

Result: Fourth in women’s SM6 200m individual medley final in 2:56.90

Age: 25

Hometown: Ware

On her performance:

“I swallowed a load of water on the breaststroke leg and pretty much just stopped. To come so close to a medal knowing that I have swallowed half of the pool, it’s quite hard to deal with right now but I’m happy I got into the competition.

“It’s not happened to me before and never in a race like that. It panics you a bit, because especially on breaststroke, you’re skinning the water and I was too low on the recovery. But it’s great to get into competition with my main event (100m breaststroke) on Sunday.”

Scarlett Humphrey

Result: Sixth in S11 women’s 400m freestyle in 5:24.03

Age: 19

Hometown: Northampton

On beating her twin sister Eliza:

“The 400m free is always a battle between us as we are evenly matched. Between the season, we share who wins between us.

“A while ago, we wouldn’t have dreamed of going 5.20, 5.30, we were only 5.50, even six minutes on some days. We have dropped so much time in such a short space of time, who knows what the future might hold?”

Eliza Humphrey

Result: Eighth in S11 women’s 400m freestyle in 5:40.44

Age: 19

Hometown: Northampton

On the experience:

“It’s really incredible to be here, a dream come true. To be in amongst people racing incredible times in such a short space of time is special.

“The 400m free is so spread out and you can gain a lot of time from small changes. We could be up there one day with the leaders, that’s what we are aspiring to do.”