'I love you, Dad': Aussie swimming gold medallist Benjamin Hance's beautiful gesture to the heavens

PARIS: Benjamin Hance touched the wall to capture backstroke gold, perched himself on a lane rope, kissed his left hand, and pointed to the heavens.

"I love you, Dad," uttered the Australian swimming champion.

At the Paralympic Games in Paris on Saturday morning (AEST), the 24-year-old dominated the final of the men's 100m backstroke S14 to become the first man to win back-to-back Paralympic gold medals in the event.

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Just hours after setting a new world record in the heats when he stopped the clock at 56.52 seconds, Hance secured gold with a time of 57.04.

Brazilian silver medallist Gabriel Bandeira finished more than a second behind with a time of 58.54, while Mark Tompsett of Great Britain took bronze as he trailed home in 59.21.

Hance was one of two Australians who won gold in the session at the Paris La Defense Arena, along with 17-year-old Callum Simpson, who triumphed in the men's 100m freestyle S8 with a time of 58.23 seconds.

Hance admitted after winning gold that he'd had "the worst year of my life".

"I'm glad this season is over," added the Sunshine Coast swimmer.

"There's my dad dying, for sure," he said when prodded, "and there's also other things I won't mention on camera that happened to me that could have ruined my life, as well.

"I was just thanking my father for everything he's done," he said of gesturing to the heavens.

"He always loved my backstroke and I'm glad I gave him a gold medal tonight, for sure."

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Anthony Charles Hance, known more commonly as Tony, died at the age of just 55.

Three months later, his son collected his ticket to Paris at the Australian swimming trials in Brisbane.

Hance's dad had been planning to be in the stands at the Paris La Defense Arena.

But he still had his sister, cousins and aunty barracking for him at the venue, which he said was "super special".

"I've never dealt with death, and I just wanted to win the gold medal for him," said Hance, who has an intellectual impairment.

Australian swimming legend Cate Campbell was moved by Hance's touching tribute to his late dad in the pool.

"Benny Hance does it for Dad here in Paris," Campbell said on the Nine broadcast.

Hance rounded out his Paris campaign with his backstroke gold.

Earlier in the Games he finished fourth in the 100m butterfly S14 — a result which followed an eye-catching entrance and left him "gutted".

He scored two medals in Paris, having also claimed silver as a member of Australia's mixed 4x100m freestyle S14 relay team.

He was one of seven medal-winning Australians at the Paris La Defense Arena on Saturday morning (AEST), as were Thomas Gallagher, Tim Hodge, Lewis Bishop, Emily Beecroft, Rachael Watson and Simpson.

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