From Paralympic Gold to Sports Management lectures

Paralympic gold medalist Leo McCrea, 20, recently returned to Bournemouth University, where he is studying for a degree in Sports Management.

McCrea took home gold for Switzerland in this summer’s Paris 2024 Paralympics, competing in the SB5 100m breaststroke event.

He said: “It still feels like a dream, it almost doesn’t feel real.”

“It will take a few months to adapt back to Uni life, obviously having such a high in Paris. Tokyo 2020 was a great warmup for me going from the Paralympics to then back to normal life.”

“Once I’m back in a routine it will be easier but it will feel weird at first.”

McCrea was the youngest team Swiss athlete at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. He said: ‘Tokyo was to get used to the atmosphere. In Paris there was more pressure to bring home a medal.”

When asked about his training routine, McCrae said: “Sunday is my rest day where I like to rest and refuel. When competing in Tokyo I was a big fan of Prison Break, so I carried on that trend and watched that during my time in Paris.”

“After everyone had finished their events [in Paris], most athletes would enjoy a night out as it was good to relieve that mental and physical stress.”

The Swiss swimmer added he was quite tired after his event, but had to enjoy a night out accompanied by his friends and family whilst in Paris.

Bournemouth University lecturer David Brine was in Paris helping students cover McCrae’s progress in the Paris Olympics.

Brine said: “It was great to see a Bournemouth University student succeed. We spoke with Leo’s family throughout the build up to the competition and it was great to see him get the reward he deserved after all his hard training.”

Brine watched the final in the Swiss embassy, accompanied by three other lecturers, as well as other journalism students who also helped cover Leo’s sporting journey.

“The atmosphere was great, everybody had a great team morale,” he said.

What’s next for McCrea? “My next aim is to hopefully beat the world record and defend my gold medal in LA.”

But for now it’s time for him to recover and enjoy a few of his favourite meals. The Paralympic champion said he tends to steer away from takeaways, but he thoroughly enjoys a “rump steak, cooked medium rare”.