AFP
Rio de Janeiro, Sept 9: Brazil’s star Paralympic swimmer Daniel Dias tore off to a gold winning start here, but don’t call him another Michael Phelps – Dias is busy writing his own name in history.
With a gold late Thursday night in the 200 metres freestyle S5, Dias, who was born with congenital malformation of his arms and right leg, now has 16 medals and is closing in on becoming one of the most decorated Paralympians of all time.
At stunning speed, the 28-year-old delighted the raucous Brazilian home crowd by beating US swimmer Roy Perkins by 10 seconds. What’s scary for opponents is he has eight more events to go.
That’s where the Phelps comparisons come in. The US swimmer – the most decorated Olympian in any sport – retired at the close of the Summer Games with a haul of 28 medals, 23 of them gold.
Dias is catching up, but stated he has his own story to tell. “I’m Daniel Dias and I want to build my own legacy. But I’m happy to be compared to a great athlete,” he said after his event.
It’s possible that Dias will go all the way in here reaching 24 medals. That would take him past the current record holder for Paralympic male swimming medals, Australian Matthew Cowdrey, who has 23 – although way off the astonishing 55 medals for the now retired US swimmer Trischa Zorn.
If Dias competes again in Tokyo 2020, he’d even have a chance to overtake Phelps. “I never think about this,” he asserted. “That’s true. I just try to do my best and to swim well. The medal is the consequence of that work.”
Dias became Brazil’s most successful Paralympic athlete during the London 2012 Games. And the emotion in the swimming arena Thursday was intense. “He is the champion!” chanted the delirious crowd – including his two sons, wife and parents – before breaking into the national anthem.
After an evening’s work, it was back to the Athletes’ Village and bed for Dias – and the medal went with him. “You don’t want to let go of it,” he pointed out.
Daniel de Faria Dias was born in Sao Paulo state May 28 with no hands or feet. He discovered swimming at 16, inspired by Paralympic swimmer Clodoaldo Silva, who has his own medal collection from Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London and lit the cauldron during the opening ceremony here Wednesday.
Dias’ life didn’t suddenly become easier. He had much suffering to overcome and prejudice, including the teasing by fellow students who he remembers ‘touching me to see if I was real’.
But he did find his place, first in the swimming pool and now in Brazilian hearts.