Swimmer Curin set to make his Paralympic debut in Rio

At only 16 years old, the French swimmer won a bronze at last May’s Euros and will compete at his first Paralympic Games, this September. 21 Jul 2016
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Swimmer with arm amputation

Theo Curin, France, at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships Glasgow, Great Britain.

ⒸLuc Percival Photography. All rights reserved.
By French Paralympic and Sports Committee

“Seeing my name in third place on the board is my best memory so far. And I still think that the best is yet to come.”

France’s Theo Curin has enjoyed a meteoric rise in swimming since taking up the sport only two years ago.

The 16-year-old competed at the Glasgow 2015 World Championships, won a bronze medal in the men’s 200m freestyle S5 at the Funchal 2016 European Open Championships and qualified for his first Paralympic Games, in Rio.

“It is true that I am progressing very fast,” said Curin.

“I would never have thought of achieving what I have achieved with only three years competing. It does not scare me, but instead motivates me even more to continue lowering my times at every future competition.”

Curin believes hard work and his passion for swimming are the causes of his rapidly improving form.

“I felt immense joy after winning bronze at the Euros, and I think hard work pays off,” he said.

“Seeing my name in third place on the board is my best memory so far. And I still think that the best is yet to come.”

Even though Curin knows that he shares events with many more experienced swimmers such as Brazil’s multiple Paralympic and world champion Daniel Dias and Great Britain’s 19-year-old Andrew Mullen, he does not lose hope of climbing the podium again in Rio.

“The Paralympic Games are my biggest goal and, if I achieve personal bests, I will have a chance of reaching the podium,” he said.

“I am the youngest on the French team, and I love it. It is great to have so many champions by my side.

“In Funchal, I finished fourth in the 100m freestyle S5 although I thought I could do better, and the whole team supported me.”

Curin is now fully focused on getting to Rio 2016 on his best possible shape and performing the best he can.

“I do not like losing and always want to give my best and outdo myself,” he said.

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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.