Being a Paralympian and avoiding the O-word

Eight-time Paralympic swimming medallist Claire Cashmore has every right to be very proud of her achievements - just don’t call her an Olympian

Great Britain swimmer Claire Cashmore (Getty Images)

Claire Cashmore spent years simmering with irritation. She wanted to speak out, but the thought of actually doing so made her rather uncomfortable - after all, she’s British. 

Still, whenever someone referred to the eight-time Paralympic swimming medallist as an ‘Olympian’, which happened with alarming regularity, the frustration bubbled up again.

Finally, she spilled. Cashmore took to social media and wrote: “Being able to call myself a Paralympian is something I’m really proud of.” She gave a Paralympics 101 lesson and, very politely, explained why she really needed people to stop calling her the O-word.