Having already experienced the Paralympics buzz in Beijing at the tender age of 15, Brenden Hall is set for big things at London 2012. The freestyle expert has imposed himself on a wide range of competitions over the past two years and is hitting peak form at the right time.

The 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships was Brenden’s time to shine as he returned home from the Netherlands with four gold medals around his neck, including gold in the 5km open water swim. He was presented with his gold medal in the 400m freestyle by legendary Dutch Olympian Pieter van den Hoogenband. Brenden continued to improve in 2011, culminating in the distance king breaking new world records in the 800m and 1500m at the Queensland Championships.

After contracting chicken pox, Brenden was forced to have his right leg amputated and is hearing impaired. He sees fellow swimmer Matthew Cowdrey as inspiration and hopes to one day hold as many world records as him, and also admires Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps.

At the ripe age of 13, he entered his first competition as an Australian representative at the Arafura Games in Darwin, which he believes is one of the best experiences he has ever had. Then in 2008, as the youngest male on the entire Australian Paralympic Team, Brenden finished first in the 400m freestyle heat, broke a Paralympic record in his first ever race at a Paralympic Games and went on to place fifth in the final.

Brenden is also a keen musician and when he’s not swimming, regularly enjoys his other passion – the saxophone. He loves spending time with his pet dog and family.

At such a young age, Brenden believes this is just the beginning of his sporting career, with multiple World Championships and Paralympic Games to follow.