Alice Tai Leads Great Britain’s Swimming Triumph at Paris 2024 Paralympics

Great Britain‘s Alice Tai achieved a remarkable victory at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, securing the gold medal in the Women’s 100m Backstroke – S8 Final at the Paris La Defense Arena.

The 25-year-old’s triumph marks a significant milestone, coming less than three years after she opted to have her right leg amputated. This victory contributed to a spectacular performance by Great Britain’s swimmers, who celebrated three gold medals within a brief period.

In a remarkable evening for ParalympicsGB, Stephen Clegg and William Ellard also earned gold medals, with Clegg setting a new world record in the Men’s S12 100m Backstroke. Tai’s performance was complemented by silver for Poppy Maskill and bronze for Louise Fiddes, showcasing the strength of British swimming.

Tai, who earned a relay gold at the Rio 2016 Games, missed the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to an elbow injury. Subsequently, she underwent surgery on her foot due to a club foot condition and associated nerve damage from crutches.

Reflecting on her journey, Tai expressed, «The last three years have been kind of crazy,» highlighting the personal challenges she faced, including the death of her grandfather earlier this year.

With a time of 1:09.06, Tai set a new Paralympic record, finishing 5.91 seconds ahead of Russian silver medallist Viktoriia Ishchiulova. «I feel like I’m 80 percent of the way there,» Tai stated, indicating her confidence in her swimming ability after her amputation.

Stephen Clegg also shared his emotions following his victory, explaining that it was his first Paralympic gold after two silvers and a bronze in Tokyo. He expressed a desire to surpass his sister Libby Clegg’s medal count, as she is a prominent Paralympic athlete with five medals to her name.

William Ellard, at just 18 years old, secured the Men’s S14 200m Freestyle title and dedicated his victory to his late grandmother. Ellard’s emotional win was a testament to his family’s unwavering support throughout his swimming career.

The performances of Clegg, Ellard, and Tai contributed to a memorable day for Great Britain, reinforcing their status in the international swimming community.