'Stuff youse all': Family's emotional interview after Ricky Betar clinches bronze medal

The family of Australian swimmer Ricky Betar swelled with pride following the 20-year-old's bonze-medal showing in the men's 200m medley SM14 final.

Opening up on Betar's struggles in his younger years, his parents fought back tears as the magnitude their son's achievement set in.

Betar led the field after the backstroke and butterfly legs.

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But red-hot favourite Nicholas Bennett of Canada reeled him in during the breaststroke before powering away to claim gold and set a new Paralympic record in a time of 2:06.05.

Betar briefly fell out of the medal placings in the closing stages but fought back with his freestyle leg to smash his personal best and set a new Oceania record of 2:08.69.

In a battle for the touch, Betar, who has an intellectual disability, lost out to Brit Rhys Darbey — finishing just one-tenth off the silver medal.

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Speaking to Nine's Todd Woodbridge afterwards, Betar's father, Drew, and mother, Norrie, were in disbelief.

"So many people said, 'He's got a disability, he shouldn't be doing it, he should be doing this, he should be doing that," Drew said.

"We copped a lot of shit in his younger years, so to see him now — winning a medal — stuff youse all.

"On ya Ricky."

Norrie added: "I love him so much and we're so proud of him".

Betar's younger sister Kate, who is also a keen swimmer, confessed that he inspires her.

"It made me feel good that he's my brother," she said.

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Reflecting on his performance, Betar was grateful for his family's support.

"I can feel their energy, their yelling all coming towards me," he said.

"So to be able to perform like that, in this pool, I can't complain."