Paris 2024: Iceland's Mar Gunnarsson hits the right notes

Icelandic Para swimmer Mar Gunnarsson is a multi-tasking whiz frequently writing songs in his head while he’s training in the pool.  

Ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Gunnarsson combined his two greatest passions – music and sport – to compose a special song about his journey as an athlete.  

“I hope the song resonates with Olympic and Paralympic athletes alike,” he told the IPC in the Paralympic Village.  

Entitled Spirit in Motion, the song captures all the good things and the “tough s**t,” the 24-year-old blind athlete said.  

It was recorded with a symphony orchestra in Manchester, where he studies music at university.  

Gunnarsson, who is openly gay and recently participated in Reykjavík Pride in Iceland, has played piano since he was seven.  

Having a bit of a “noodle” on an outside piano at the Paralympic Village helped him calm his nerves ahead of race day.  

“I’m always happy when I can find a piano somewhere,” he said after some Para athletes stopped to film him playing "La Vie en rose" - the iconic signature song of French singer Édith Piaf.  

Swimming can be a lonely pursuit, staring at a black line at the bottom of a pool for hours on end, but Gunnarsson entertains himself with music in his head.  

“I’ve written songs in the pool,” he said.  

In 2022 he entered Iceland’s selection for Eurovision with a song he wrote while swimming.  

UK Guide Dog red tape   

Gunnarsson appeared relaxed behind the piano, a far cry from the stress and frustration he has felt this year because his guide dog Max was caught up in United Kingdom post-Brexit red tape.  

Since February, Gunnarsson’s ability to fly to swimming championships and music performances was curtailed because British authorities don’t officially recognise his dog as an assistance animal.   

Max was not trained by an organisation on a UK government-approved list.  

“It feels as though Max and I are trapped in a never-ending nightmare; every time we defeat one monster, a bigger and uglier one emerges,” he wrote in an Instagram post pictured with his beloved dog.  

“Due to new regulations imposed by the UK government, it is now completely impossible for me, as an Icelandic citizen with an Icelandic/Swedish guide dog, to enter the UK by air.”  

He said local Icelandic airlines which had previously supported the duo’s travels were now legally prohibited from transporting them.  

“From this point, our only option to enter or leave the UK is to travel from Manchester to London, take the train and escape under the British Channel to mainland Europe, and then fly to our desired destination,” he said.  

“As an international student studying in Manchester with a career in music and sports, this situation has greatly complicated our lives.”   

“I’ve honestly had enough of fully sighted people in powerful positions placing barriers in the way of blind travellers who are doing their best to live an independent life.”   

Striving for a PB  

In April 2021, he set a world record in the 200 m backstroke S11, but that event is not offered at the Paris Games.  

The 24-year-old had a hectic Paralympic campaign at the Tokyo Games competing in the 200 m individual medley SM11, 100m butterfly S11 and 50m freestyle S11.  

His best performance was fifth place in the 100m backstroke S11. 

At the Paris Games, he is focused on one event - the 100m backstroke S11.   

“I’m here to improve my personal time,” he said.   

“If I can improve my personal time by two or three seconds then I will be fighting for a medal position. But I’ve never really strived to walk around with a medal.”  

He said his main priority has been to be “the best version of myself”.  

Gunnarsson is unsure if Paris will be his last Games.  

He took a break from swimming after Tokyo - worked as a TV presenter and toured the country talking to schoolchildren about his life.  

But ultimately the pool called him back.  

Catch Gunnarsson in action at La Defense Arena for the heats on Sunday, September 1.