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Paralympian appointed MBE reflects on 'special year'

Reuters Will Ellard pictured in his white ParalympicsGB kit collecting his gold medal, following his 200m freestyle win at the Paralympics. He has short black hair and is smiling at the camera, clutching his medal in one hand and a toy Paralympics mascot in the other. Reuters
Will Ellard won three medals at the Paris Paralympics on his debut

An 18-year-old Paralympian who claimed two gold medals at his first Paralympics said being appointed an MBE had capped off a "special year".

Will Ellard, from Beccles in Suffolk, was crowned Paralympic champion in the S14 200m freestyle - setting a new world record - and mixed 4x100m freestyle relay, and took silver in the 100m butterfly.

Ellard also won four medals at the European Championships in April and was nominated for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

He said he was proud of his achievements this year and was looking forward to what 2025 would bring.

"It was really amazing to get that through the post," he said

"I think I got it about two weeks ago just after the BBC Sports Personality of the year."

"I definitely am proud of myself but I just want to stay like I am, with my family and everything. It's worked so far. "

"We'll see how it carries on into the new year," he added.

Ellard said 2024 had been special and he hoped to be able to celebrate it as he rang in the new year.

He said he would take his parents and sister to his investiture ceremony but leave his mum to pick his outfit.

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