Ellard with touching tribute to grandmother after Paris gold

By Milly McEvoy at La Defense Arena

Suffolk’s Will Ellard paid tribute to his grandmother as he won his first Paralympic gold.

The 18-year-old swimmer triumphed in the men’s S14 200m freestyle final in a world record time to claim his second medal of Paris 2024.

It comes four years after his grandmother Sue Tipple passed away, having predicted his apperance at these Games in her final message to him.

“The last 25, I knew I’d won it,” said Ellard, who is part of Aldi’s Nearest and Dearest programme in partnership with Team GB, helping to maximise support and minimise potential distractions for athletes so that they can focus on their performance.

“To have my family behind me, my nan in the back of my head, I did it for her and that’s what my celebration was, it was for her.

“She died about four years ago; she was my biggest supporter when I was swimming. The last thing she ever said to me on WhatsApp was ‘see you in Paris, 2024’.

“She meant a lot to me, she used to have my medals up in her house. So, I know she’s up there somewhere watching me, it hasn’t hit me quite yet how much it means to me and my family."

Ellard is competing in his first Paralympic Games and followed up winning ParalympicsGB’s first swimming medal of the Games with gold on a Super Saturday.

His roommate at Paris 2024, Stephen Clegg, began the medal rush with gold and a world record in the men’s 100m backstroke.

Ellard then followed 15 minutes later, with a silver and bronze coming for Poppy Maskill and Louise Fiddes soon after.

The delirious domination at La Defense Arena concluded with Alice Tai claiming gold in the women’s 100m backstroke in a Paralympic record, just 37 minutes after Clegg won gold.

Ellard added: “Stephen is my roommate so we’re both going to be chuffed tonight, and I don’t think either of us are going to sleep any time soon because it’s our first Paralympic gold medals.

“To do that on the same night as him, he’s my biggest role model out of the team so going back with him will be a great feeling. Being on the podium is another great feeling.

“There’s a 15,000 strong crowd here which means quite a lot to me. I think at the end with Stephen after we both finish we’ll have a couple of days to go out and celebrate if the team let us!”

Aldi are proud Official Partners of Team GB & ParalympicsGB, supporting all athletes through to Paris 2024.