In a breathtaking display of speed and skill, Clegg dominated the final, finishing 1.65 seconds ahead of Azerbaijan's Raman Salai, who took silver. Ukraine’s Yaroslav Denysenko secured the bronze. The victory was a dream come true for Clegg, who had previously missed out on gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where he won a silver and two bronze medals.

"It's sensational," Clegg told BBC Sport Scotland. "I’m overwhelmed to achieve this world record and gold medal. It’s been a long journey, and to finally get the monkey off my back is incredibly gratifying. I didn’t think this was possible a few years ago, and now it’s all come together in a way I could only dream of."

Clegg’s success is particularly poignant given his family background. He is the third member of his family to win a Paralympic medal, following his elder sister Libby, a multi-Paralympic gold medallist, and his brother James, who won bronze at London 2012. "Speaking to my sister after the race was really special," Clegg shared. "She's a legend in her own right, and to share this moment with her is a huge deal for me. It feels like I’m finally on the same level as her."

The triumph in Paris represents a major milestone for Clegg, who has faced numerous challenges along his journey. Despite a difficult few months and previous near-misses, he managed to channel his nerves and transform them into performance. "I was racked with nerves, but they fuelled me," he explained. "In Tokyo and Rio, nerves were crippling, but now they drive me to perform. It feels like the pressure is off now that I've achieved this gold."

Clegg's victory was the fifth swimming gold for Great Britain at the Games and the first of what promises to be a thrilling night for Paralympics GB. Reflecting on his win, Clegg expressed gratitude to his coaches, his team, and the supportive programme at the University of Edinburgh. "I’m incredibly fortunate to be part of such an amazing squad," he said. "Their support has been vital in helping me reach this point."

As Clegg prepares for his upcoming events in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly later in the week, his win in the 100m backstroke has already set a high bar. "I’m excited for what’s to come," he said. "This gold feels like a long time coming, and I’m ready to give my best in the remaining races."

Two more British champions

Beyond Clegg, the Great Britain swimming team clinched two more gold medals yesterday. Alice Tai secured her first individual Paralympic title in the S8 100m backstroke with a record time of 1:09.06. Reflecting on her achievement, Tai, who underwent a leg amputation in 2022 and missed Tokyo due to injury, remarked, “The last three years have been kind of crazy. I’m proud of myself and have made everyone who supports me proud too.”

The third victory came from 18-year-old William Ellard, who triumphed in the S14 200m freestyle with a world record time of 1:51.30. Ellard dedicated his win to his late grandmother, saying, “The last 25 I knew I’d won it, just having my family behind me and my nan in the back of my head, doing it for her.”

Despite narrowly missing out on gold in the S14 200m freestyle final, Poppy Maskill and Louise Fiddes secured silver and bronze, respectively. With 11 medals won so far, including seven golds, Team GB's success continues to rise. Young swimmer Iona Winnifrith set a European record in the SM7 200m individual medley, and hopes remain high as the Games progress. However, the team faced setbacks as Suzanna Hext withdrew due to a concussion, and Scarlett Humphrey finished seventh in her event.