When I was in Beijing, London, and also in Rio I was still a kid really, I didn't feel pressure. Now I'm a 26 year old woman. Being a lot older I feel those expectations. And it's definitely hard on my shoulders, to the extent where in training I'm ok but in competitions I panic, and I do stupid things. Working with [my psychologist], at these Games one of the things I'm proud of is I didn't have any panics. I was so happy about that - I went out and raced and enjoyed it.
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ES
Ellie Simmonds
British Paralympic swimmer, 2008–2021
United Kingdom · b. 1994
Sport
About
Won eight Paralympic medals, five of them gold, across four Games between 2008 and 2021. She was ParalympicsGB flagbearer in Tokyo and announced her retirement from international swimming after her final race there.
3 answers
I love swimming and I'll still be found in the pool, but now I'll be able to do without the 04:30 alarm!
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