Paralympic swimmer aiming for triathlon record
SubmittedA Paralympian is aiming to become the first quadruple amputee to complete an Ironman Triathlon in less than 24 hours.
Lyndon Longhorne, from Crook, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, will have to do a 2.4-mile (3.8km) swim, 112-mile (180km) bike ride, and 26.2-mile (42.2km) run as part of the challenge in September.
"This has been one of the toughest things that I ever set myself to do. Mentally, physically, it's pushing me on every level at the minute," Mr Longhorne, 29, said.
The swimmer represented Team GB in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics before retiring from professional swimming last year.
When he was just eight months old, Longhorne contracted meningitis, which caused him to lose his legs, right hand, and left fingers.
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"Obviously, that's not stopped me," he said.
"It's just about showing that you have got the will power to push yourself forward."
100,000 hours in water
Mr Longhorne's grandfather introduced him to swimming at the age of one - and by nine years old he was already competing.
Watching the 2008 Beijing Olympics inspired him to become a Paralympic athlete.
"Little did I know that it was going to take about 12 years to actually get to that point," Mr Longhorne said.
"It's over a 100,000 hours probably that you've done in the water, to just get to that point of saying 'do you know what, I have reached the top level'."
He carried the Olympic torch during the relay for the London 2012 Games and made his debut Paralympic appearance at Tokyo 2020, finishing seventh in the 100m freestyle.
SubmittedDarlington singer-songwriter Hayley McKay has recorded a song in support of Mr Longorne's Ironman Challenge.
The track, Adrenaline, is dedicated to the "awe-inspiring journey" of the athlete - who is also raising funds or Meningitis Now and mental health charity Andy's Man Club as part of the triathlon.
"He is someone I have enormous respect for and I'm proud to call him a close friend," Ms McKay said.