Paralympic Gold Medalist Supports Charity Swimming Initiative

A Paralympic swimmer based in Dorset, Leo McCrea of Poole, who secured a gold medal in Paris, has lent his support to a fundraising initiative for Children in Need. The 20-year-old, who is of half-Swiss heritage, claimed victory in the SB5 100m breaststroke final, representing Switzerland. While taking a break from his training regimen, McCrea assisted BBC Radio Solent presenter Steve Harris in refining his swimming technique. Mr. Harris, host of the Dorset Breakfast show, is a member of a five-person team participating in the Thousand Mile Challenge, also benefiting Children in Need. This challenge involves BBC radio stations across the United Kingdom collaborating to collectively swim 1,000 miles. Each station’s team aims to complete 24 miles between November 4 and 8. McCrea previously trained at Bournemouth Collegiate School (BCS), an institution known for its program for talented swimmers. He revisited the school to offer advice to Steve, who commented: “My swimming talent is not good, I’m hoping that through some training and speaking to some experts I might get some tips to help me get better.” Reflecting on his tenure at the school, Leo stated: “It’s crazy really, I’m 20 and been to the Paras twice. “It feels special for me, as it’s something I always worked on when I was younger, all the help I had here at BCS was really special to help me win the medal as well.” Regarding his advice for Steve, Leo suggested focusing on breathing, avoiding starting too quickly, and simply performing to the best of his ability. McCrea’s assessment was that Steve was “doing pretty well so far.” He added: “He’s got the rhythm going like I told him to.” At the pool, Leo and Steve were accompanied by BCS students Zack, 17, and Theo, 16, both aspiring swimming talents aiming for the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles. Zack, a distance swimmer and current 1500m British record holder, remarked: “It’s painful, when you reach a certain point, around 1200m and you think ‘how far?’ and then when you hear the whistle at the end, for the last two lengths, you’re like ‘thank goodness’.” Zack’s recommendation for Steve was to persist, while Theo advised him to concentrate on giving his best effort and enjoying the experience. Following the session, Steve expressed surprise at the rapid onset of breathlessness and muscle soreness. Nevertheless, he described it as “a privilege to get tips from potential Paralympians and a Paralympic gold medallist.” He added: “I will carry that with me through the day of the challenge. Hopefully that will inspire me to the finish line.” For updates, BBC Dorset can be followed on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.