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Gray relishing return to action

Johannesburg - A year out from the 2016 Rio Paralympics, swimmer Emily Gray is set to compete in her first major international gala since 2012.

The 23-year-old last participated at the 2012 Paralympics in London and will be looking to secure a spot for South Africa in Rio when she takes to the pool at the IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow.

Gray qualified in the 400m freestyle and the 100m backstroke while posting B-qualifiers in the 50m and 100m freestyle for disabled swimmers (S1-S13) at the South African National Championships in Durban in April.

"It is obviously good that I qualified but your name is not on the paper yet and until that happens you never know," Gray said.

"I am ranked fourth in the 400m freestyle and if preparations do go well I have a pretty good chance of medalling.

"It depends of course on how well my competitors do but I feel confident."

The world championships is the first, but crucial step towards realising her dream of going to her third Paralympics next year.

The gold and silver medallist from each event in Glasgow will secure a slot for their respective countries in Rio.

If Gray succeeds in clinching a spot, it is only half the work done as she would have to qualify at next year’s national championships.

"Once you’ve generated that slot for your country it gives you a better chance of going to the Paralympics next year," she said.

"You still have to qualify at senior nationals next year, so both years are important on the road to Rio.

"Just to race at worlds in Glasgow really excites me, the last time I raced internationally was at the Paralympics in 2012."

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