Nelson Crispin dreams of winning Paralympic gold

World swimming champion Nelson Crispin feels ready to take another leap forward after finishing fourth in the 100m breaststroke SB6 at London 2012 and reach his first Paralympic podium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this September.

Last year, Colombia’s 24-year-old sealed the 100m freestyle S6 world title in Glasgow, Great Britain, and went on to claim three golds, two silvers and one bronze at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.

“I hope to outdo in Rio my performance from London 2012,” he said.

“Achieving personal bests and representing my country the best I can are my main goals, but I dream of winning Paralympic gold every day.

“If you believe in yourself, dreams can come true. Also, I have been working hard towards this Paralympic Games.”

Great Britain’s multiple-Paralympic gold medallist Sascha Kindred, Cuba’s double Parapan American champion Lorenzo Perez and Ukraine’s Oleksandr Komarov are among Crispin’s main contenders for gold.

“I have many strong opponents, some of whom are Paralympic and world champions, as I will take part in many different events,” he said.

“I am especially confident towards the 100m breaststroke SB6 because I won silver at Glasgow 2016, and in the 50m freestyle S6 and 50m butterfly S6 since I claimed gold in both events at Toronto 2015.”

Crispin will also compete in the 200m individual medley SM6, 100m freestyle S6 and 100m breaststroke SB6, in Rio.

“This is going to be my second Paralympic experience thus I will get much better prepared,” he said.

“London 2012 was very important for my career because I could represent my country at the world’s major Para sport event for the first time and gave me confidence to continue improving ahead of future competitions.”

Rio 2016 will be Latin America’s first Paralympic Games, a stepping stone for the development of the Paralympic Movement in the continent.

“I am sure this will be a high-competitive Paralympic Games with the best Para sports can offer,” said Crispin.

“I feel proud because my continent will be able to showcase all the natural and cultural riches it has.”

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Sport fans from around the world can now buy their Paralympic tickets for Rio 2016 from authorised ticket resellers (ATRs)

The IPC’s Global ATR is Jet Set Sports, and Rio 2016 tickets and packages can be purchased on the CoSport website.

Residents of Brazil can buy 2016 Paralympics tickets directly from the Rio 2016 website.

Visa International is the exclusive payment card and the official payment system for the Paralympic Games.