CLAIRE Cashmore is ready for the challenge as she goes for Paralympic gold in Rio.

The 28-year-old from Kidderminster heads into her fourth Games with a haul of six medals, although she still covets victory at the very highest level in the SB8 100 metres breaststroke.

With tickets sales low and the Russian team banned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the tournament has enjoyed a less than ideal build-up.

But Cashmore’s unfazed by the negativity, or that rival and double gold medal winner Olesya Vladykina is appealing her ban.

She said: “I am going in with the attitude you don’t know who you may face and all you can do is your best.

“Even if Russia are not allowed to compete somebody you had never heard of could come from nowhere and produce a great time.

“I have been working towards Rio for four years, I have a game plan and all I can do is post a lifetime best and see where it takes me.”

The tournament has a huge act to follow after the London Paralympics caught the imagination of British public in 2012.

She added: “Every Games is different and I don’t think anything will compare to London, when the home support made it very special.

“We have a very young team, it’s very different from the one that competed in London and I am excited to see what the team will do.”

Cashmore starts her Rio racing on September 11 in the 200m individual medley, with the breaststroke three days later and the 100m butterfly on September 15.

She then takes part in the 4x100 medley relay the following day.

“I am 28 years old and feel like one of the more experienced members of the team. When I was a young member of the squad I looked up to the experienced swimmers,” she added.

“I hope I can be a good role model for all the young ones who have joined the squad.”