ALTHOUGH confident that London 2012 will be his time to shine, Paralympian David Ellis still believes his medal prospects are high in Beijing.

The Derventio eXcel swimmer will feature in his first Paralympic Games and will compete in a range of events, including the 200m medley, 100m breaststroke and 100m butterfly.

Ellis, who was born in Nottingham but now lives in Heanor, qualified for the Games at the British International Swimming Championships in April, after swimming under the qualification time in both the heats and final of the 200m medley.

The Derbyshire athlete swims in the S13 classification, one of three categories for those who suffer visual impairment.

And the 22-year-old explained that, originally, he never considered the 2008 Games a realistic target.

He said: "It was when I made the world championships team that I started hoping to make the Beijing team. I was hoping I'd still be in a position when the qualifying times came out.

"You just had to get the time at the trials and then get picked.

"There was the first trial, where I just missed out on quite a few events, and then the second trial, where I got inside the qualifying time and then I got it in another event as well. So I qualified for two in one go in April."

He added: "This is my first time in the Paralympics and, to be honest, I'm just looking forward to getting out and seeing what it's all about.

"I'm doing all the 100m events – like the free, the back, the fly, the breaststroke, as well as the 200 medley and the 50 free. There's not that many visually impaired athletes on the team, so there's not really enough of us for a relay.

"I think I'm ranked about fourth in the medley and, probably, fourth in the breaststroke as well, so I've got a chance of getting a medal."

Ellis explained that it would be frustrating not to come back with a medal but stressed that the 2012 Paralympics has always been his ultimate aim.

"I'd be a little bit disappointed not to come back with a medal but 2012 is really the one I'm targeting for a medal, so it's just more about the experience and being prepared for next time," he said.

"For the 2008 Paralympics, I've been training for the last two years at Derventio and in the last six months, I've been doing 20 hours a week – which has been pretty intense.

"For the next Paralympics, it's simply just a case of carrying that through, working hard and, hopefully, getting better."

Mark Rose, the head coach at Derventio, is impressed with Ellis' progress towards the Games.

"Dave is looking very good. He is in the shape of his life," said Rose.

"Physically, he has got more strength than he had before and has been more resilient in his training.

"Now it is all about the final descent towards Beijing and making sure he takes care of himself, so that he can deliver what we know he is capable of.

"I would hope he can make at least two, maybe three finals.

"The 200m medley and the 100m breaststroke are his main events, and he has a chance of possibly making the final of the 100m butterfly.

"Everybody raises their game at the Olympics but if he can get into the finals, he has every chance of sneaking a medal. Who knows what will happen on the day?

"I am confident he can go there and swim personal bests. If he does, it will take some very fast swimming to beat him.

"I think that both his main events will take world records to win as they are very strong fields.

"But there is no reason why Dave cannot do it.

"He has never had a cycle of training as good as the one he is on now.

"If he does get a medal, it will be a dream come true for him and for me, as his coach."

Rose is also convinced that Beijing will be an important stepping stone in Ellis' career, regardless of the outcome.

He said: "Dave is becoming an experienced international athlete and becoming confident in his own ability.

"He is also very, very professional about his business and will leave nothing to chance.

"By the time he competes in Beijing, he will be fully prepared – a polished diamond.

"It has taken time to build up his speed and he will be quicker when London 2012 comes around – but this is an important stepping stone for him."