Rhys Darbey

Rhys Darbey began swimming from an early age, attending lessons three times a week as a baby before joining Connah’s Quay Swimming Club. By the age of eight, he had discovered his passion for racing and decided to pursue competitive swimming.
Rhys made his international breakthrough in 2023 when he qualified for the World Para Swimming Championships Manchester 2023 in the Men’s SM14 200m Individual Medley. Competing in the S14 para-swimming classification, he quickly established himself on the world stage.
He made his Paralympic debut at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, where he became the first Welsh para-swimmer to qualify for the Games since 2012. In Paris, Rhys achieved outstanding success, winning gold in the Mixed 4×100m Freestyle Relay S14 alongside Will Ellard, Poppy Maskill, and Olivia Newman-Baronius, as well as silver in the 200m Individual Medley S14.
Most recently, Rhys won gold in the Men’s MC 200m Individual Medley (S14) at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships with a time of 2:07.33. He continues to train and target new records as he builds on his rapid rise in international para swimming.
Social media handle: @rhysdarbey