Three-time Paralympic champion Ollie Hynd has tipped para swimmer Ellie Challis for gold at Paris 2024.

Challis became ParalympicsGB's youngest medallist of Tokyo 2020 when she won silver in the S3 50m backstroke at her maiden Games but now has hopes and dreams of upgrading her silver to gold in the French capital.

The 20-year-old competes in her favoured 50m back and 100m freestyle events at La Defense Arena, recently having been crowned European champion in the former.

Hynd knows first-hand the difficulty of upgrading medals on the Paralympic stage, having stormed from S8 400m silver at London 2012 before touching the wall for gold at Rio.

And with the determination and drive that Challis has in bucket loads, Hynd has no doubt that Challis can fire herself to Paralympic champion status in Paris.

"Race day at the Paralympics is a complete blur," he said.

"But I know how hard Ellie works and I know how talented a swimmer she is.

"She'll have left no stone unturned and tapped into those support services, physios, the world class facilities that we are lucky that we have, thanks to people playing The National Lottery.

"At this point, it's just about Ellie believing in her training, believing in all the hard work that she's done.

"Now is the time to go out and execute and show the world what she can do.

This is the exciting bit, and I know that Ellie will see it that way and she'll be really excited to get in the pool and compete.

"She's going to be as best prepared as she possibly can be so there's no reason why she can't win gold."

Challis 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. 

But her journey began back at Colchester Phoenix Amateur Swimming Club, a registered charity which provides swimming opportunities for people with disabilities.

Colchester Phoenix are coming together over the course of the Paralympics to cheer on their former teammate Challis in the pool, with a watch party after training used to watch her 50m backstroke heat.

And with a possible gold on the horizon, Hynd believes that Challis' success can only inspire her former teammates to go on and achieve their own sporting success.

"That is the essence of the Paralympics, it's that legacy," he said. "It's about inspiring people and about inspiring change.

"I really see the Paralympics as a kind of catalyst for social change as well.

"For these guys to have this experience and watch someone that they know really well and have seen grow up and train alongside, be able to stand on the world stage and hopefully win medal, they're going to remember that for the rest of their lives.

That's going to inspire them to go on and maybe do the same and go to a Paralympic Games as well."

Thanks to National Lottery players our Olympic & Paralympic athletes are supported to live their dreams and make the nation proud. With more than £30M a week raised for Good Causes, The National Lottery has enabled ParalympicsGB to become a global force in Para Swimming and has provided more opportunities for people inspired by athletes like Ellie to take part in the sport. For details visit  www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk