Paris 2024: Paralympic champion Santiago hopes for 'incredible' Games

Maria Carolina Santiago got in touch with Para swimming in 2018. Three years later she won five medals, including three gold, at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

This year, the Brazilian star hopes for another Games medal haul in front of a full aquatics centre at Paris 2024.

"The Paralympics are incredible. It is a great competition, where people feel motivated by what we're doing," Santiago said. 

"I need fans, a lot, I'm really craving supporters. I want people to participate with us, that they are there as a part of the process the moment we compete."

Celebrating with the crowd

Born in Recife in Brazil, with a congenital eye condition called morning glory syndrome, "Carol" discovered swimming when she was young. But it was only after she started competing in Para swimming that she discovered the power of having a large crowd.

"I think it's really cool when the races are over, that I get home and there are many messages to respond to," the multiple world champion said.

"I want to respond to each one and make them part of that moment, making people feel represented and also challenged to want something big in their lives."

Her Para swimming success did however not come after only three years of training. She had started swimming from the age of four, competing in long distance open water swimming competitions from 12 years of age.

"Swimming always gave me this feeling of accomplishment," Santiago said. "Since I was young, it was something that brought me great happiness, because I was good at it."

At the age of 17, she had become blind due to gathering water in her eye's retina and took a break from the sport. Her vision returned after eight months but she was going to be away from swimming for a decade.

Having come back to open water swimming aged 27, it was at the age of 33 she eventually got in touch with a Para swimming club in Porto Alegre, Brazil, deciding to give it a go. She quickly became one of the best in the world.

A Paralympic debut to remember

She rates her Paralympic debut in Japan as her greatest sporting moment so far. In only one Games, she became Brazil's most decorated female Paralympic swimmer.

"The Paralympics were incredible, the games are a different feeling. Participating in that mega championship structure was something different from anything I have ever participated in in my sporting life," Santiago said.

"From living in the village with athletes from other sports and nations to the races themselves and listening to the national anthem, in an event of that level, it was incredible."

It was so incredible that she immediately wanted to do it again. "As soon as we returned from Tokyo, I already wanted to train again to have a well-done Paralympic cycle until Paris," she said.

"I wanted to have the big difference that was missing in Tokyo, which was the fans. Everyone talked a lot about the atmosphere at the Rio (2016) Games and I wish I could experience that, so I look forward to having this great opportunity in Paris."

From Tokyo success to Paris dream

Santiago "gets goosebumps" when she thinks about how close Paris 2024 is. Even though she cannot wait for it, she feels like the three-year gap between Tokyo and Paris has gone a little too fast.

"I always think there is not enough time so I try not to waste any time," Santiago said. "I usually tell the technical committee that works with me that I will never waste their time, I will never show up without a desire to do my best."

She is however certain that she will come to the aquatics centre prepared.

"We have made the most of every competition, every moment, to test everything that will be done in Paris, for nothing to be new there," Santiago said.

"It is very important that we arrive knowing exactly what we want to do, and the only thing I asked the technical committee to do is that I arrive as competitive as possible to be fighting for a gold medal in every event I swim in."

Despite having dozens of international medals in her trophy cabinet, Santiago is not certain that she will have the same medal haul at Paris 2024 as in her Paralympic debut three years ago. The defending champion in 50m freestyle S13, 100m freestyle S12 and 100m breaststroke SB12 thinks that the competition has grown stronger.

"In each distance I have an athlete who is specialising in that event, so it is increasingly difficult for you to arrive and win several gold medals or become a multi-medallist," she said.

Medals aside, Santiago sees the Paralympic Games as a symbol for what people can be capable of. 

"It gives hope that things are possible, regardless of the difficulties we have in life.”

Discover more about Para swimming and the sports in the Paris 2024 Paralympic sports programme