Emotional Alice Tai claims first individual Paralympic title

Alice Tai became an individual Paralympic champion for the first time at Paris 2024, winning in a Paralympic record time of 1:09.06 in the Women’s S8 100m Backstroke.

The 25-year-old won Paralympics GB’s third gold of the night following Stephen Clegg and William Ellard’s world record breaking golds.

It came in a race where the Rio 2016 relay gold medallist was a class apart from the rest of the eight-strong field at La Defense Arena.

The Ealing Swimming Club athlete breezed to victory, taking the lead in the early stages before putting on the afterburners to finish nearly six seconds ahead of neutral Paralympic athlete Viktoriia Ishchiulova.

The victory came less than three years on from having her right leg amputated and spoke of the emotional moment of collecting her medal.

“There’s a lot of emotions”, she said.

“I’ve only ever cried after one medal in my life and that was my first one after my amputation and a little bit at the one of Commonwealths too.

“But this is my first individual gold at a Paralympics and I can’t believe it, the crowds amazing.

‘I’m having such a great time’

“The last three years has been crazy, I’ve had six surgeries on three different limbs over the course of two and a half years.

“A lot has happened in my personal life. Just being here, I feel that I’ve made myself proud and everyone supporting me proud.

“It hasn’t been the easiest few years so to come here and swim a time that I’m really happy with just means so much and for that to get me my first individual gold at the Paralympics is super special.”

Following the amputation of her right leg, Tai had to teach herself how to swim again in 2022. She also missed the Tokyo Games due to an elbow injury so missed out on the chance to take an individual gold in Japan.

She’s done it all under the guidance of coach Dave Heathcock, who she’s hoping will guide her for years to come.

“My coach said he was going to retire and I said ‘nope, I’m going to go faster next season so you’re not allowed because you’re going to get me there.’

“I’m definitely going to cry when I give my family a hug but I can’t get over it. I love this pool and I’m having such a great time. I’m excited to come back tomorrow.”

Tai races again tomorrow in the Women’s 200m Individual Medley (SM8) in what is her second of four events at Paris 2024.