IPC Swimming World Championships
12-18 August

Dias looking to add more gold in Montreal

He may already have 10 world titles but the Brazilian is as hungry as ever for more. 10 Aug 2013
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Daniel Dias competes at Circuito Caixa Loterias

Daniel Dias competes at Circuito Caixa Loterias in June 2013.

ⒸBrazilian NPC
By IPC

“As with any competition, I’ll try do my best for my country here in Montreal and try bring back as many medals as possible to Brazil."

Brazil’s Daniel Dias may only be 25 years old with his best years of swimming ahead of him however he will start the 2013 IPC Swimming World Championships on Monday (12 August) as the most decorated swimmer competing in Montreal, Canada.

Having made his international debut at the 2006 World Championships in Durban, South Africa, Dias has won a staggering 28 major Championships medals in just seven years including 10 Paralympic and 10 world titles.

At last year’s Paralympic Games in London he won six gold medals in as many events, setting world records in all of them. The bad news for his rivals arriving in Montreal though is that despite taking four months off after London, to get married and take his first full rest since he started swimming in 2004, Dias shows no sign of easing up and still remains as hungry as ever to stand top of the podium.

“As with any competition, I’ll try do my best for my country here in Montreal and try bring back as many medals as possible to Brazil,” said Dias.

“I hope to be in my best form here. I believe winning and losing is just a consequence. It’s about training hard and when I go to the pool I try to do my best and that’s what I aim to do here in Montreal.”

Dias is competing in six individual and three relay events in Montreal and says he is most looking forward to the 200m medley, an event that was not part of the London 2012 programme. When asked whether he is likely win gold in each event in Montreal he coyly answers: “Maybe, I don’t know.”

As well as holding multiple titles, Dias is also the world record holder in nine events and at Rio 2016 will be looking to win a record eight individual titles. Despite this he says he does not feel too much pressure to succeed.

“It’s good to have pressure as it is the result of lots of good moments. I love competing and being a swimmer. So I don’t feel I have big pressure on me coming into this competition.

“Competing in Rio is going to be amazing. We are beginning a new cycle and all the hard work towards 2016 starts here in Montreal,” Dias said.

In the build-up to Montreal 2013, Dias tuned in to TV to watch his track and field teammates take part in the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France where Brazil finished third in the medals table.

“I watched the athletics each night from Lyon, but I have to say this ... swimming is much better to watch on TV than athletics.

“Talking about Brazil though, I’m happy to see the profile of athletes increasing. It’s not just in Brazil either it’s worldwide with athletes becoming more well known. It’s hard work. What makes me even happier is that events like this increase of the profile of para-athletes around the world.”

Dias and over 480 swimmers from 57 countries will start competing in the IPC Swimming World Championships from 12-18 August.

Each finals session will be live streamed via www.ParalympicSport.TV and regular updates can be found at www.twitter.com/IPCSwimming and www.facebook.com/IPCSwimming.

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