Sascha Kindred

Sascha Kindred OBE is one the most successful British para-swimmers of all time having competed at six Paralympic Games since his debut at Atlanta 1996 and winning 13 medals, including seven gold medals.

Rio 2016 marked his last Paralympic Games, but one which generated a roller coaster of emotions for Kindred, after he was disqualified for an illegal kick during the morning heats of his favourite event, only to be reinstated after a team appeal.

He’d won silver in the men’s 200m individual medley SM6 four years earlier at London 2012, but was a gold medallist in his specialty discipline in Beijing, Athens and Sydney - and there was only one medal he wanted to retire with. And, that’s exactly what he did, clocking a world record time of 2:38.47 in the process.

Kindred claimed a podium place for Great Britain at every IPC Swimming World Championships from its inception in Malta 1994 to the Championships in Glasgow in 2015, remaining a dominant figure on the world stage within the S6 classification.

He proved his consistency throughout his career, more recent highlights including a six medal haul at the 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships in Eindhoven. A strong performance at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships ensured he is selected to ParalympicsGB as reigning World Champion in the 200m individual medley SM6 and a bronze medallist in the 50m butterfly S6.

Away from Paralympic competition, Kindred has a total of nineteen world championship medals, nine of which are gold. Finally his European haul of medals totals 26, including 14 gold.

Sascha announced his retirement from competition after Rio 2016.