Calne-based athlete Suzanna Hext selected for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

"Eek - Let's go to Paris!" these are the words of Calne-based Paralympic swimmer Suzanna Hext, upon learning she has been selected by ParalympicsGB for Paris 2024 in August.

Suzanna is a World and European medalist Paralympian swimmer and accomplished equestrian, who was paralysed after a riding accident in 2012.

Suzanna recalls how she was inspired by tv coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics during her time in hospital, commenting: "I owe so much to the London 2012 Paralympics, seeing athletes absolutely smashing it despite their disability, gave me a crucial nugget of ‘HOPE’…".

A triple European para-dressage gold medallist, Suzanna has ambitions of representing Paralympics GB in both aquatics and equestrianism during her career and only turned her attention to swimming in 2017.

In 2019 she burst on to the scene of British Para-Swimming where she showed her indomitable spirit by claiming a pair of medals at her debut World Para Swimming Championships.

The following year saw her debut Paralympics appearance at Tokyo 2020, where she reached two individual finals in the Women's S5 100m and 200m Freestyle, placing fourth in both.

Suzanna said: "It’s certainly been a rollercoaster of a journey and one that’s tested me to the limit at times. But, if you’d have told me after my accident that I’d go to 2 Paralympics -let alone in swimming, and have represented my country in 2 sports I’d never have believed it!
 
"I feel privileged to do what I love on a daily basis. I feel lucky to still be here today, this makes me treasure every moment that bit more."
 
Suzanna lives in Calne with her partner Gareth and her beloved hearing support dog, Kimmy.  When in town, she trains at Calne Leisure Centre, the London 2012 Legacy Pool at the University of Bath and in Swindon.
 
Suzanna will be racing in the the 100m and 200m Freestyle in Paris 2024 which runs from 28th August to 8th September. 
 
We wish her luck!
 

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