'I didn't think it would be me': Ealing swimmer Alice Tai wins second Paralympic gold and fourth medal in Paris
Ealing swimmer, Alice Tai MBE, picks up another gold medal at the Paris Paralympic games, completing the set.
Tai who trains out of Ealing Swimming Club (ESC), brought home her second ever gold medal for Great Britain in the Women's 50M Freestyle S8 in a time of 29.91 seconds on yesterday (5 September).
Her 50m Freestyle S8 win marks her fourth medal of the Paris Games with another gold in the 100m Backstroke S8, silver in the 400m Freestyle S8 and bronze in the 200m Medley SM8.
Reacting to her second gold medal at the Paralympics, Tai told Channel 4: "I knew it was going to be a close race...I didn't think it would be me, my start has been really affected since my amputation so it was a real shot in the dark.
"Going from 400 yesterday (4 September) to 50 today is a real change in system as my whole strength is different when I swim 50 compared to 400."
Speaking to UK Sport, the swimmer gave a special thanks to Dave Heathcock, head coach of ESC who will retire at the end of season.
She said: "Dave is the best coach I could ask for. I've worked with so many coaches and they've all been such a fundamental part of my journey, I'm thankful to them all.
"When I moved to Ealing, I said to Dave 'I don't really like swimming, I want to quit, but I didn't know what else to do with my life.
"He has built me up from that 19-year-old that turned up poolside to a 25-year-old stood here today enjoying every second. I'm so grateful."
The Paris Paralympics are not over for Tai who still has to compete in the 100m Butterfly S8 tomorrow (7 September) at 9:13am GMT.
To watch the Ealing swimmer compete, visit Channel 4 who are broadcasting the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
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