RHYS GETS SET FOR RIO PARALYMPICS
RHONDDA sprinter Rhys Jones said he is looking forward to his Rio de Janeiro adventure as he prepared to jet off to the Paralympic Games.
The Clydach Vale athlete, 22, flew to Brazil at the weekend to compete in the 100m T37 event which starts on September 10.
Rhys won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and he is also a European bronze medalist – and he says he is looking forward to competing at his second Paralympic Games.
The former St John Baptist Church in Wales High School, Aberdare, student said: “We found out the squad on July 26, and I was absolutely over the moon – it’s a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to compete in Rio.
“My goal is to go out there and go better than last year – everyone wants to win that gold medal but I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself.
“It’s a new adventure for me – I love going to places I’ve never been before.
“And I’ve really enjoyed watching the Olympics, and thinking that I’m going to be competing on that track.”
Rhys travelled with the Team GB squad and his parents Debbie and Allen will fly out to Brazil to watch him compete.
The semi-final of the 100m T37, for athletes who have co-ordination impairments on one half of their body, takes place on September 10, with the final a day later.
And Rhys says the support he is receiving back home in the Rhondda will put an extra spring in his step for the competition.
He added: “To be honest, I’m a bit of a homebird and if I can take any part of home out there with me it will help.
“My training is going really well. I do most of my training in Cardiff and occasionally in Newport, and I’ve just had my last session before we fly out.
“Fingers crossed I’ll be able to emulate my good form in training to the track.”