If fourth is the worst place to finish in sport, no-one has told Beccles Paralympian Jordan Catchpole.

The 21-year-old swimmer’s Paralympic debut ended with fourth place in the 100m backstroke S14, missing out on a medal by a margin of 0.99 seconds. 

He was touched out of a podium place by ParalympicsGB team-mate Reece Dunn but Catchpole emerged buoyant from a surreal first Paralympic experience.

“Honestly, I'm happy,” he said.

“I didn't know what to expect when I came out here. I'm very happy to come away with a gold medal in the relay. I can't ask for much more.

“I gave it my everything in that 100 back so I can't complain.”

Catchpole won silver in the backstroke at the World Championships in London in 2019, fuelling high expectations in the event at the Games.

In the final, Catchpole turned in eighth place at the 50m mark and came roaring back to narrowly miss a medal.

“I'm really happy with that swim,” he said.

“It's a season's best by quite a way, only just off PB.

“I knew there were some big boys in that race, so I can't really complain.

“I'm happy to get fourth. I'll go back, focus on training, and make sure I come back stronger for Paris.”

Catchpole reached the final and finished fifth in the 200m freestyle, where Dunn broke the world record.

He also finished 16th in the 100m butterfly and missed out on qualification for the final by a single place in the 200m individual medley.

Catchpole’s memorable moment came as he delivered a superb 52.68 anchor leg to drive Britain to mixed 4x100m S14 relay gold in world record.

“It's been really good,” he said. 

“It’s a weird first Games, obviously without a crowd and everything, so I'm really happy with how I've been, and I can take away some good pointers from this meet.”

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