Summers-Newton ready for Paralympics pressure

Champion swimmer Maisie Summers-Newton says she’s fresh to "deal pinch nan pressure" of defending her Paralympic titles successful Paris.

The 21-year-old, from Wollaston, Northamptonshire, won double Paralympic golden 3 years agone successful Tokyo.

She collapsed her ain world grounds successful nan excavation precocious successful a title successful Berlin, but admitted that staying up of nan section had brought its ain stresses.

"When you’re chasing to get that golden badge its easier than staying astatine nan top," she said.

"There’s a batch of pressure, which I put connected myself," she added.

"I’ve tried to region it, but don’t deliberation I can.

"But it’s because I person that passion to do well. I’m getting stronger, and I’ve sewage that occurrence successful my belly."

A trainee teacher, Summers-Newton said nan past 3 years had been "exhausting", juggling world competitions pinch her studies.

"There are decidedly days erstwhile you get successful nan excavation and you don’t consciousness for illustration swimming astatine all," she told nan BBC.

"When I was doing my placements astatine university, I was getting up astatine 6am, getting successful for 8am, past coming present to aquatics successful nan evenings and train.

"They were really agelong days.

"But I do it because I person a passion for swimming. I do it because I was that small woman that watched London 2012 and was inspired by nan Paralympic activity and enjoys coming swimming each azygous day."

Summers-Newton was appointed MBE by nan Princess Royal for services to swimming successful 2022.

The European, World and Commonwealth champion is portion of a 26-strong squad for nan Paris Paralympics, which commencement astatine nan extremity of August.

She is 1 of 4 swimmers competing from Northampton and says she wants to make her family proud.

They watched from location 3 years ago, but this clip will beryllium watching poolside successful Paris.

‘I americium astir looking guardant to stepping retired earlier my title and looking up into nan crowd and spot them there,’ she said.

‘I ever look for them giving maine a thumbs up and its gives awesome reassurance – that nan group you emotion are location for you.’