Swimmer competes on National Paralympic Day

Hornchurch’s Amy Marren admitted returning to the scene of London 2012 for National Paralympic Day was the perfect way to kickstart a busy season.

Marren travelled to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday to take part in a Great Britain versus Europe match and it was the first time the London Aquatics Centre had hosted international swimming since the 2012 Paralympics.

And Romford Town’s Marren made the most of the opportunity, racing in no fewer than eight events.

The 16-year-old’s best result saw her claim victory in the mixed classification 200m individual medley, while she also took four second-place finishes and third in the 100m butterfly.

With the IPC World Championships taking place in Glasgow next July, not to mention the Rio 2016 Paralympics the year after, Marren relished the hard work out.

“It’s a bit strange getting back into the pool, it’s very, very early season. This is the first time we’ve touched the water in three weeks,” she said.

“I’m not really looking towards the times, I’m glad I just made it to the end of the day.

“It’s great being back in the pool. I was fortunate to come back here for a regional competition with able-bodied swimmers and the atmosphere here is so much better.

“The World Championships are in Glasgow next year so it will be just getting back into training and keeping working towards where I want to be.

“We are two years out from Rio so it’s getting exciting. This is my first full Paralympics cycle. It’s all a new learning curve everything that I’m doing.”

Swimming was one of four sports contested at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as part of the day’s celebrations with boccia, goalball and wheelchair basketball taking place in the Copper Box Arena.

And with events also taking place in Birmingham and Liverpool in order to celebrate and promote disability sport, Marren was proud to have played her part.

“I’m really glad the crowd is getting behind us and I’m really surprised with how many people turned up,” she added.

“It’s not the Paralympics, but it means the Paralympics is still out there two years on.

“It’s a lot of fun and that’s what this event is about, going out and enjoying it and more importantly, raising awareness for Paralympic sport.”

n National Paralympic Day aims to promote Paralympic sport across the UK, giving people the opportunity to relive the wonder of 2012 and to support Paralympic sports and athletes.

#NPD2014 is supported by the Spirit of 2012 Trust. Visit Paralympics.org.uk/npd2014.