Paralympic table tennis gold medallist Will Bayley is confident next year’s Paris Games will be a spectacular event.
Monday marks one year to go to the start of the event which will run from 28 August to 8 September in the French capital.
The 35-year-old is hoping to compete in his fifth Games and add to his gold and three silver medals.
“I am expecting it to be one of the best Games ever,” he told BBC Sport.
“For me, London set the benchmark for the Paralympics. I think it was absolutely incredible and to play in front of a home crowd like that with the atmosphere the fans created was unique and spectacular.
“But I believe Paris will be up there as well as one of the best for atmosphere. They are a very proud country and it will be a great and special Paralympics.”
The Brighton-based player is preparing for the European Championships at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield from 4-9 September, as he bids to add the European title to his world crown.
Bayley won gold in Rio and claimed individual and team silver at the rearranged Tokyo Games in 2021 after recovering from a serious injury sustained while competing in TV show Strictly Come Dancing in 2019.
“I have learned so much from my Paralympic experiences,” he added. “On my debut in Beijing I lost almost every match, at London 2012 I got to the final when I wasn’t expected to, and lost. You learn a hell of a lot from a loss like that.
“Then in Rio I got to another final and won, before Tokyo where I lost in both finals.
“At the moment, I feel like I am a better player than I have ever been and I feel more relaxed than I have ever been going into a Paralympic year.
“I know my game inside out and my strategies and what mindset I need to be in, and I know a lot about the game and the players I will play, so I just have to keep it going and keep the ball rolling.
“I have been unbeaten since Tokyo, which is a great achievement, so I want to keep that going as long as possible.”
Bayley has always thrived on energy from the crowd, and after Tokyo took place behind closed doors he is looking forward to support both in Sheffield and in France next year.
“It suits my game for there to be a crowd there,” he continued.
“Tokyo was tough because I started so well in the final. It was probably my best start and I believe the crowd might have started to get involved and maybe I would have pulled away, but without a crowd there isn’t that atmosphere.
“But I am just as hungry as ever to win and I think I’m lucky because that mindset is natural for me. That competitive instinct has never gone and that is why I am still playing and motivated to win.”
