William Ellard

William Ellard

MBE

Personal information
Full name	William Thomas Ellard[1]
Born	(2006-04-04) 4 April 2006 (age 18) Beccles, England
Height	183.2 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	77 kg (170 lb)
Sport
Country	Great Britain
Sport	Paralympic swimming
Disability	intellectual impairment
Disability class	S14
Coached by	Nicholas Thompson (Nick)
Medal record Men's para-swimming Representing  Great Britain Paralympic Games 2024 Paris 200 m freestyle S14 2024 Paris Mixed 4×100 m freestyle relay S14 2024 Paris 100 m butterfly S14 World Championships 2023 Manchester Mixed 4×100 m freestyle relay S14 2023 Manchester 200 m freestyle S14 2023 Manchester Mixed 4×100 m medley relay S14 European Championships 2024 Funchal 200 m freestyle S14 2024 Funchal 100 m butterfly S14 2024 Funchal 100 m backstroke S14 2024 Funchal 200 m ind. medley SM14

William Ellard (born 4 April 2006)[2] is a British swimmer, who won three medals at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, including gold in the 200 m freestyle S14 where he set a new world record and Mixed 4×100 m freestyle relay S14.[3]

Early life

Ellard grew up in Beccles in Suffolk.[4] He began swimming at the Beccles Kingfishers Swimming Club, before attending Saint Felix School where he took part in the school's swimming club.[5][6]

Career

In 2023, Ellard claimed gold at the Men's 100m Freestyle in the British World Series.[7] He went on to win three medals at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester.[5]

Ellard competed in the 2024 Summer Paralympics. He took the silver medal in the 100 m butterfly S14, before winning gold medal in the 200 m freestyle S14, lowering the world record previously set by Reece Dunn by over a second. He also won gold in the Mixed 4×100 m freestyle relay S14.[4]

Ellard was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2025 New Year Honours for services to swimming.[8]

References

1. "2025 New Year Honours List" (PDF). Retrieved 31 December 2024.
2. "William Ellard". Retrieved 29 August 2024.
3. "ELLARD William". Paris 2024 Paralympics. Retrieved 7 September 2024. (alternate link)
4. Cunningham, Alice (4 September 2024). "Paralympic record-breaking swimmer Will Ellard claims he can go faster". BBC. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
5. "William Ellard looking to impress in Paris after incredible breakout year". Swimming.org. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
6. Cunningham, Alice (28 August 2024). "Swimmer, 18, eyes up medals in first Paralympics". BBC. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
7. Brown, Bruno (5 April 2023). "Beccles: William Ellard takes gold in British World Series". Beccles & Bungay Journal. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
8. "Southgate knighted in New Year Honours - full list". BBC. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.