Claire Cashmore is eyeing glory for ParalympicsGB in Paris. GETTY IMAGES

A decorated Paralympic athlete, Claire Cashmore, shared that she is "in a really good place" as she prepares for her sixth Games. Born without her lower left arm, Cashmore has secured nine Paralympic medals throughout her career in both swimming and triathlon events.

The Kidderminster-based athlete was awarded an MBE in 2017 for her contributions to swimming, following her gold medal win at the Rio Paralympics. 

With the Paris Games kicking off this Wednesday, Cashmore expressed confidence in her preparation, "I know I’ve done the hard work, and I know I’ve given myself the best opportunity to stand on that start line and to deliver a performance," she said.

In an earlier interview with the BBC, Claire Cashmore shared that she began swimming competitively at the age of 12 after being discovered at the Wyre Forest Swimming Club in Kidderminster.

Claire Cashmore is eyeing glory for ParalympicsGB in Paris. GETTY IMAGES
Claire Cashmore is eyeing glory for ParalympicsGB in Paris. GETTY IMAGES

She made her Paralympic debut in Athens in 2004, where she went on to win one gold, three silver, and four bronze medals as a swimmer.

In recent years, Cashmore transitioned to triathlon, securing a bronze medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020. Now 36 and a veteran Paralympian, she reflected on her journey leading up to Paris, saying she has worked hard "to go back to that younger self and remind myself why I started, for that love of doing the sport."

Speaking to BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester, Cashmore expressed her confidence, "I feel in a really good place at the moment." The Paralympics get underway from 28 August until 8 September.