By Tom Degun

stephanie_millwardMarch 25 – British swimming star Stephanie Millward is hoping to pull off one of the most remarkable feats in Paralympic history as she targets eight medals in eight different events at the London 2012 Games.


The 29-year-old from Bath, who has multiple sclerosis, swam in five different events at the last Paralympics in Beijing but returned home with just one silver from the 50 metres freestyle.

However, Millward underlined her ability to medal in multiple events just over a year later by winning five at the 2009 European Championships, four of which were gold, before she secured an astonishing eight podium finishes at the World short-course equivalent not long after.

She further staked her claim by winning six medals at last year's World Championships in the Netherlands and is targeting more success at July's European Championships in Berlin, the last major event before 2012.

Millward was formerly one of the country's top able-bodies swimmers who represented Britain at international level and had hoped to compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999.

"I can't wait for London," said Millward.

"I am hoping to get there and try to compete in eight events and get eight medals.

"It is a big goal and it is most definitely going to be tough to achieve but I am confident I can do it – it would be amazing if I can.

"The plan is to go to Berlin and try for eight medals there and again get myself used to having so many races.

"If I can go to the Europeans and win eight medals then I can start to plan for London and hopefully do the same there."

Millward warmed up for Berlin by winning three medals at the 2011 British Gas Championships in Manchester earlier this month and will return to the city in May for the Paralympic World Cup where she will compete in the 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly.

"Things like the British Championships are great for me," she said.

"I get to swim in a number of events and get myself prepared for what going for eight medals might be like in London.

"I know that if I am trying things at the British Championships and they are working then I can take that to London."

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