Heartbreaking swim follows eye-catching entrance

PARIS: Australian swimmer Ben Hance is “gutted” after entering the Paralympic arena in eye-catching fashion, and with high hopes of winning gold, but falling short of the podium.
The Sunshine Coast athlete demanded attention upon his entry for the men’s 100m butterfly S14 on Thursday morning (AEST), leaping around, gesturing with an air of confidence to the crowd and throwing his jacket on his block.
“He is ready to rumble!” said Australian swimming legend Cate Campbell on the Nine broadcast.
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But Hance proceeded to finish fourth in a time of 56.48 seconds, 0.40 of a second behind the bronze medallist.
“Look, you’re going to have bad races. I am gutted. I thought I was going to win that race. I’ll be completely honest, I really did,” Hance said on the Nine broadcast poolside.
Australia’s Ben Hance in Paris. Nine
“But all credit to those lads. They were the better people on the day.
“We pick up, we move forward.
“I’ll probably have to say, that is the last time I’ll ever swim that event, and we’ll just leave it there.”
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At Tokyo 2020, Hance won gold in the 100m backstroke S14.
He will race in the heats of the 100m backstroke S14 next Friday night.
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