22-year old 5-time Paralympic medalist Oliver Hynd, best known as “Ollie,” has his eyes set on the 2020 Games in Tokyo.
After Rio, Hynd took a break to evaluate where he wanted to go. After a few months off, Hynd got back in the water to train and is continuing to build up to his first meet in April of this year, which will be the British International. This will be his first meet since the Paralympics last summer.
“It will be good to see where I’m at” said Hynd. “I am committed to another three years to Tokyo, and hope to win gold medals again” said Hynd.
Hynd says that his main focus will be on the the British Championships in July, because that is the trials for the World Championships.
The Nottinghamshire native made his international debut in 2011 at the IPC European Championships. He won the 200-meter individual medley to set a new European record. Hynd made his way to the 2012 Paralympics and swam to a gold medal in the 200-meter individual medley.
In 2013, Hynd was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire being honored for his services in swimming. In 2015, Hynd was awarded the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year at the Nottinghamshire Sports Awards for the second time in a row.
Hynd represented Britain in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games where he won the gold medal in the 400-metter freestyle, breaking the world record in finals. He continued with swimming to another gold medal in the 200-meter individual medley.
Hynd competes as S8/SM8/SB8, having neuromuscular myopathy and associated limb deformities.
After Rio, Hynd took a break to evaluate where he wanted to go. After a few months off, Hynd got back in the water to train and is continuing to build up to his first meet in April.
Below, watch Hynd talk about his goals and plans for the coming quad as he builds to the next Paralympic Games.
