SWIMMER Harry Stewart says he is braced for the experience of his life as he gets set to take part in the Paralympics in Paris.
The Bridport 20-year-old, who was awarded £1,000 towards his training costs from Dorset Community Foundation’s Lord Lieutenant’s Fund for Young and Talented, will compete in the 100m breaststroke, which begins on September 2.
The youngster, who has Asperger’s, said: “It feels a bit weird because one minute I think the games are still quite far away, and the next minute I’m like ‘wow it’s really, really close’. “Obviously I‘ve known a while that I was going and when I first get told, I was thinking ‘this is the best thing ever’ but you’ve got to put that aside for a bit.
“At the moment I’m just trying to be as focused as possible and push all the other emotions out of the way.”
The weeks leading up to the games have been hectic, with a training camp in Turkey, a gold medal and Personal Best time in the 100m breaststroke at the British Championships in Sheffield, a media and kit event in Loughborough and more training at the National Aquatic Centre in London before embarking for Paris in time for the Paralympic opening ceremony today.
He said he has enjoyed being part of the GB squad. “Considering I only joined the squad this year, they have all been so welcoming,” he said. “You’ve got people that have lots of experience and those with not so much experience but everyone’s so lovely.
“I just fitted right in straight away, and we’re always pushing each other, the coaches are amazing too. Just to be swimming with people like Maisie Somers-Newton, who’s a double Paralympic champion and world record holder, and watch them train is amazing.”
I was so pleased to get the grant because it has helped me massively
The Lord Lieutenant’s Fund for Young and Talented, which is also supported by Wimborne engineering company Superior Seals, awards grants of up to £1,000 towards costs that might prevent disadvantaged youngsters from making the most of their natural ability – such as buying kit and clothing or helping to cover the cost of competition entry fees, coaching, travel and accommodation.
“I was so pleased to get the grant because it has helped me massively,” said Harry. “I want to win a Paralympic medal and show people that having a low IQ, ASD or learning impairment is nothing to be ashamed of.
“You can still do things that other people may not be able to. Sport, and especially swimming, are what helped my confidence at school when I found everything else stressful and difficult.”
He said the win in Sheffield has boosted his confidence for the breaststroke. “I’m in a very, very good place,” he said. “If I’m getting a personal best time in my main event after having probably the two hardest weeks of training of my life, and travelling two days to get home and then up to Sheffield, it fills me with confidence.
“I think I can get into the final, because I think I’m ranked fourth or fifth in the world at the moment. The swimmers who are first and second are a little bit in front, then third to fifth – we’re all so close. I feel like who finishes first to sixth depends on the day and who has trained the hardest.”
His mum Dinah and brother Louis will be poolside to watch him compete. Harry said him walking out in a Paralympic final will be emotional for all the family.
“If everything goes well, and I do get into the final, I am just looking forward to walking out and being able to feel and see the atmosphere,” he said.
“A lot of my family and friends are going so for them to be able to see me racing against the best in the world, and quite possibly being one of the best in the world, and being able to see that in person, that’s what I’m looking forward to most.”
Find out more about the Lord-Lieutenant’s Fund for Young and Talented here.
Pictured above: Harry Stewart at the pre-Paralympics media day in Loughborough, centre, winning a medal in the multi class 100 breaststroke final at the mixed Nationals Championships and Olympic/ParaOlympic trials in London at the start of April,left and, right, celebrating a win in Madeira on his GB debut
