Tom Hamer is confident he can secure gold when the rising star returns to his second home of Glasgow for the IPC Swimming World Championships next month.
Hamer is already Britain’s number one 200m freestyle Paralympic swimmer for the S14 class despite being just 16-years old.
Hamer, who is based at the National Performance Centre in Manchester, is ranked third in the world but has beaten No.1 Jon Margeir Sverrisson, of Iceland in the past.
And ahead of this year’s World Championships getting underway on July 13, Hamer believes he has the speed to land gold when it really matters.
Especially considering he is returning to the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, a place he knows and loves having set a personal best and won a British title and Commonwealth silver at the Glasgow venue.
“I definitely want to medal at the World Championships,” he said. “Of course it will be a close race and it will be the first time I have raced against my two closest rivals at the same time.
“I want to get to the top of the podium. If I can’t get gold then I want at least silver. But I am confident I can win gold.
“We did a time trial out in Cyprus and I beat the time that I did in the training camp before the trials when I broke my personal best, so I’m in a good place heading into the World Championship.
“I love the Glasgow pool. It is like a second home for me.
“I hope I can medal in both the 200m freestyle and 200m IM. I might need a bit of luck in the 200m IM but I’m very hopeful I can medal in the 200m freestyle.”
Hamer has left Alder Grange sixth form in favour of a private tutor in Manchester, where he is based at the British Para-Swimming National Performance Centre.
Hamer still spends the nights at his family home in Rawtenstall but lives in a flat in Manchester during the day-time in a bid to enhance his chances of success.
“It has certainly helped me reach the next level,” Hamer added. “I’m now just swimming, in the gym or with my tutor. It is a very professional environment.
“I’m really excited about what this all means for the Paralympics in Rio now. I just want it to be here now. I don’t want to wait.”
To support the British Para-Swimming Team at the IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow get your tickets at www.ticketmaster.co.uk/glasgow2015