'Stay tuned': Paralympic show-stopper Ben Hance drops tantalising hint
BRISBANE: Keep your eyes on Ben Hance. He loves an eye-catching walk-out, and another is brewing.
The Paralympic champion claimed his second title of the ongoing Australian swimming championships on Wednesday night, charging to victory in the 50m multi-class backstroke in a time of 26.44 seconds.
At the Paris Paralympics last year, upon his arrival for a butterfly final, he leapt around, gestured to the crowd as if to say "I'm the man", and threw his jacket on his block.
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"He is ready to rumble!" said Australian swimming great Cate Campbell on the Nine broadcast.
Another show-stopping entrance is in the works for the Singapore world para-swimming championships.
"Of course, I always do," he grinned when asked if he had another one cooking.
"I can't say [what people will see]. You're going to have to stay tuned and find out."
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Ben Hance pictured at the Australian swimming championships on Wednesday night. Delly Carr/Swimming Australia
Hance will contest the 100m backstroke S14 at the world titles, taking place from September 21-27.
"I think that swim's going to be extra spectacular," he said.
"The walk-out will be good as well, I reckon."
The Sunshine Coast swimmer created history in Paris, becoming the first man to win back-to-back Paralympic gold medals in the 100m backstroke S14 — an event for athletes with intellectual impairments.
His sights are now set on winning the event at LA 2028 and again at Brisbane 2032.
No Australian has won four consecutive Paralympic gold medals in a single event.
Matt Cowdrey won three in a row, conquering both the 100m freestyle S9 and 200m individual medley SM9 across the Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games.
Hance has ambition, and is confident he can fulfil it.
"I've cut out 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle [since Paris 2024]. I'm just doing backstroke until Brisbane [2032]," the 24-year-old said.
"No Australian swimmer has done the four-peat — four gold medals in a row. Someone's got to do it, and I'm going to be the person to do it."