Suffolk swimmer, 18, eyeing up medals in first Paralympic Games

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.”