The swimmer was thrust into the spotlight as a 19-year-old just as her idol Ellie Simmonds was leaving it, making for an awkward dynamic as she won gold in Tokyo.
Now 22, she has spent the last three years stewing on the defence of her 200m individual medley title, all while becoming the face of British para-swimming.
“I have a lot of self-doubt,” said Summers-Newton, who is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full-time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – which has been vital on their pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.
“I think that’s something that has come since Tokyo, there’s a lot of pressure being Paralympic champion and then defending it. I just put so much pressure on myself.”
At least to those in the stands at La Defense Arena, SummersNewton need not have worried.
This story is from the August 31, 2024 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the August 31, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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