Head adjustment helps Paralympian, Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson chase down Mexican rival, José Arnulfo Castorena Vélez, ahead of Paris 2024 campaign

A newfound power in the pool is driving Cairns Paralympian Grant ’Scooter’ Patterson towards personal best times following a eureka moment that will be critical in his quest to claim gold in Paris later this year.

Fresh fruit and protein drinks are fuelling Cairns Paralympian Grant 'Scooter' Patterson's rigorous pool sessions. Patterson typically trains around 20 hours per week while ramping up towards major events.

A newfound power in the pool is driving Cairns Paralympian Grant “Scooter” Patterson towards personal best times, following a eureka moment that will be critical in his quest to claim gold in Paris later this year.

A silver medallist in the 50m breaststroke in Tokyo, Patterson’s times had stalled before two small changes helped the athlete find another gear and propel him towards new milestones.

And with this month’s Madeira Para Swimming European Open Championships in Portugal providing an ideal tune up before domestic trials, the swimmer said he was on pace to crack the sub-one minute mark – a time that’s dogged him his entire career.

But coach Herbie Howard and Patterson believe it’s the pace Patterson must set to beat Mexican rival and Tokyo gold medallist José Arnulfo Castorena Vélez this September in France.

“I had been training my ass off but we weren’t getting anywhere. I put so much effort in the pool and the gym and with my sports nutrition,” Patterson said.

“When you don’t see results, it’s kind of depressing.”

Paralympian Grant 'Scooter' Patterson and coach Herbie Howard at Tobruk Pool in Cairns.

Remarkably, a slightly tilted head as he submerged has yielded instant results, Patterson said.

“Now I’m so much more efficient through the water,” he said. “After I saw the biomechanist, we did a 1”05 that night (across 50m).

“I hadn’t done that in a long time and it was such a huge relief. We’d been scratching our heads wondering where we were going to find some speed.

“It’s bringing my time down in training. So, I’m looking forward to seeing where that gets me.”

An improved diet with fresh fruit before training and a high protein drink immediately after exiting the pool is also paying off for the swimmer, who was born with a rare form of dwarfism known as diastrophic dysplasia.

“I wasn’t eating enough and not at the correct times,” Patterson said.

“You can’t expect a Ferrari to go 100mph down a track with dirty fuel. I was a lot more fatigued before but now I feel really energised before training.”

Cairns Paralympian, Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson hopes a “tweak” to his swimming technique made by a biomechanist will help him chase down his Mexican rival, Jose Arnulfo Castorena Velez at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Joining Patterson in Portugal will be 19 other athletes with the dual Paralympian now considered a leader within the Australian para swimming team, coach Herbie Howard said.

“Scoot sets a great example for the younger athletes, so I think it’s a little bit of a no-brainer,” Howard said.

“It’s an opportunity to travel, to prepare, taper and get everything right, see how he goes and then do it all again (ahead of Paralympic trials in June in Brisbane).”

Patterson, who will turn 35 before Paris and has flagged his ambition to swim well into his 40s, said he still felt like his best times were yet to come.

“Paralympic swimming is like a box of chocolates,” he said.

“It’s a difficult sport to pick out who’s the best because we’re all different and you can’t really compare us.”

Patterson aims to compete in the 50m freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and the 150m individual medley at the Games.

Originally published as Head adjustment helps Paralympian, Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson chase down Mexican rival, José Arnulfo Castorena Vélez, ahead of Paris 2024 campaign