Paris 2024: Simone Barlaam ready to put tough times behind him

From the dark depths of the Covid-enveloped and delayed Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Italian Para swimmer Simone Barlaam is excited for a much brighter experience in Paris. 

Despite his first Games being forced behind closed doors by Covid restrictions and no support in the stands, the 24-year-old's focus only sharpened, becoming as he says, an “obsession”, to the detriment of his mental health. 

“The Covid period was quite a difficult time,” Barlaam said ahead of the start of the Para swimming events in Paris. “I became obsessed with my first Paralympics, and not in a good way.

"I wanted to do everything right; I was afraid of getting Covid so I cut out all the relationships with friends and family. I was trying to do everything perfectly but was forgetting what was important - to enjoy what I was doing. 

“Going into Tokyo, I didn’t like swimming anymore. I sometimes felt sick at the thought of jumping in the water to warm up for a race.” 

Returning for good times 

But Barlaam, who won four medals in Tokyo and will compete in the 50m S9, 100m S10 and 400m S9 freestyle, 100m S9 backstroke and 100m S9 butterfly, channeled the difficult times to get himself back on track. 

“That time opened my mind; I worked on myself a lot," he continued. "I learned - sometimes the hardest roommate you need to live with is yourself. I learned about different aspects of my personality I didn’t know I had.

“I started swimming at an able-bodied club, starting reconnecting with all my friends and my family which was a very important part. It is one of the most important things to have those relationships. So only by doing that and working on myself, I fell in love with swimming again.” 

Paris also holds a special place in Barlaam’s heart. It was in the city where he received treatment on his right leg, and returning is extra special for him. 

“I’m fond and close to this city. As a kid I did most of my surgeries here so I am grateful for what the French people did for me.” 

Now, as he prepares to dive into the pool for the first time on Thursday, Barlaam is focused on enjoying the moment with the noise, the buzz and the electricity of crowds returning to stadiums. 

“I’m here, grateful to be here enjoying what I’m doing, enjoying every metre in the pool. Whatever the outcome, I’m going to be super happy seeing my family and friends in the stands, and seeing a big crowd of course, cheering a little for me!” 

Routliffe on injury “heartbreak” in Tokyo 

Canadian Para swimmer, Tess Routliffe, is returning to the spotlight after a back injury ruled her out in Tokyo, meaning it has been eight years away from the competition. 

“I’ve been dying to get back to a Paralympic Games,” she said. “It has been the longest and shortest eight years. Being back is surreal - it is where I’m meant to be."

Routliffe used her experience through Covid as a positive reference when injury hit, as she was able to switch off and accept the “heartbreaking” reality. 

“I found that, when we couldn’t swim after putting everything into it, it was like, ‘okay so what do I do now?’ I had to find other things in my life.  

“But that was good because when I broke my back, swimming was out of my life again; I’m grateful I had that experience. 

“If it was a year before, I don’t think I’d have made it out very easily, not going to the games. Having the experience of losing what you love to do made it easier. It was heartbreaking, but I saw the positives. I was ready to race, and I am again. I’m back doing what I love.” 

The return of crowds, and the support of their loved ones, to the Games has given the Para Swimming contingent a new lease of life ready for the action to begin again.