Calne-based Paralympic swimmer Suzanna Hext has said she 'can't wait' to hear the crowds for the first time as she prepares to compete at the Paris Paralympics.
Paris is gearing up to host its first-ever Paralympic Games which will begin with a spectacular opening ceremony in the heart of France's capital this evening - 28th August.
Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées will play host to 4,400 Paralympic athletes from 184 delegations as they celebrate the commencement of 11 days of competition.
Suzanna Hext is a World and European medalist Paralympian swimmer and accomplished equestrian, who was paralysed after a riding accident in 2012.
Suzanna recalls how she was inspired by tv coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics during her time in hospital, commenting: "I owe so much to the London 2012 Paralympics, seeing athletes absolutely smashing it despite their disability, gave me a crucial nugget of ‘HOPE’…".
A triple European para-dressage gold medallist, Suzanna has ambitions of representing Paralympics GB in both aquatics and equestrianism during her career and only turned her attention to swimming in 2017.
In 2019 she burst on to the scene of British Para-Swimming where she showed her indomitable spirit by claiming a pair of medals at her debut World Para Swimming Championships.
The following year saw her debut Paralympics appearance at Tokyo 2020, where she reached two individual finals in the Women's S5 100m and 200m Freestyle, placing fourth in both.
Born with a hearing impairment and now profoundly deaf - a rule change in 2023 means she can wear her cochlear implants during her race. She said: "Having that crowd and that feel of the atmosphere, it's got to give you a buzz to get down to that pool pretty quick."
