WHEN Josef Craig takes to the starting blocks in Rio, the Paralympic champion will do so feeling he is back in the shape of his life.

Four years ago the then-15-year-old smashed his own S7 world record to take gold on his Paralympic Games debut in London.

The Sunderland Aquatics Centre swimmer will be back for a second Games appearance in Rio – although the 19-year-old, who was born with cerebral palsy, has not had it easy to make the team for what is set to be the most competitive Paralympic Games ever.

A year after being awarded an MBE for services to swimming in the 2013 New Year Honours list, Craig was reclassified from a S7 swimmer to an S8 swimmer – although he still managed to come away from that year’s IPC European Swimming Championships with three bronze medals.

Craig then suffered a shoulder injury back in January setting him back in his preparations to try and make the team.

However the South Shields swimmer is not one to be written off easily, admitting he is raring to go and show what he can do on the biggest stage of all once again.

“I am in the best shape of my life and I just want to get in that pool. I just can’t wait to get going now,” said Craig, speaking at the Paralympics GB team launch ceremony in London.

“It has been a long four years. Being a S8 swimmer means I am in a higher rank of disability classification for cerebral palsy.

“I went from being one in the world in one event to being, at best, fourth but now I have worked hard and in the three events I am competing, the 50m, 100m and 400m, I am well placed.

“I had a shoulder injury at the beginning of the season and that knocked me back even further so I didn’t think I would be going.

“But I have been brought up that, in whatever circumstance, I give my best and achieve my best so I was going no matter what. If they tore an arm or leg off, I was still going.

“You should always find a way if you’re a champion, you need a champion’s attitude to find a way.

“I don’t know what other guys have or don’t have but I have a winning drive and I need that in S8. It is very competitive.”

A registered charity, the British Paralympic Association is the organisation responsible for funding, selecting and managing the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team that competes at the Paralympic Games.

And while determined to add to his medal collection at some point, Craig admits making sure his performance levels are spot on are the first priority.

“I can only be in charge of what I do. So I am going to be the fittest possible Josef Craig, the best possible Josef Craig and the fastest possible Josef Craig,” he added.

“I have already achieved that ten weeks out, so now it is all about maintaining it. I have no pressure because I am not expected to medal like at London.

“So for me, it is a chance for me to start up again and do my best. I made myself realise that I have a chance to go down in history as the person who won as an S7 and a S8.

“I know I can do that, and I would not say that if I did not mean it. Whether it happens in Rio or Tokyo, it is irrelevant just as long as I do it.”

You can help #Supercharge ParalympicsGB to Rio 2016 and beyond. Show your support for the team and find out more at www.paralympics.org.uk/supercharge