Rio Olympics 2016: Watch Ellie Simmonds on why she's going for gold at 'the toughest Paralympics ever'

Simmonds on Monday was confirmed as part of a 31-strong Great Britain para-swimming team for this summer's Games.

The 21-year-old won two gold medals at Beijing 2008, then added two more plus a silver and bronze at London 2012.

Following Monday's announcement, Simmonds told Press Association Sport: "It is incredible to know I am going to my third Paralympics. It is so exciting.

"The Paralympic movement is moving forward, the competition is getting tougher and it is getting harder, so I'm just going to go out there and swim the best I can.

"But we do it to get those golds and I am very competitive. I love to be on the top of the podium.

"I want to be the best athlete I can be. I want to push myself to faster times, to be better."

The team also features Ollie Hynd, who ended up with three medals at London 2012, including gold in the SM8 200 metres individual medley.

Hynd recently returned from the IPC Swimming European Championships with three gold medals and is the simultaneous holder of the Paralympic, world, European and Commonwealth title in the 200m IM event.

Other London 2012 gold-medallists on the team announced by the British Paralympic Association include Josef Craig, Jonathan Fox and Jessica-Jane Applegate.

Another is Bethany Firth, who was competing for Ireland at the Games four years ago.

There are also places for a 12-year-old in Abby Kane and 14-year-old in Ellie Robinson.

While all those swimmers achieved the nomination standard at the trials, the team also features a group of four who have been selected after achieving a time within two per cent of the set benchmark.

That includes veteran Sascha Kindred, the 38-year-old who has 12 Paralympic medals to his name and has claimed at least one at each of the last five Games.

Tully Kearney, who won four gold medals at last summer's World Championships, has been selected on a discretionary basis having missed the trials due to injury.

British Para-Swimming national performance director Chris Furber said: "We have an exciting and capable team selected for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

"At British Para-Swimming we have worked consistently on increasing the standards of our team which is reflected in the selection process and it's a real positive to see so many athletes achieving the time outright.

"The athletes know that the hard work doesn't end at selection and I am confident that every one of them will go back and focus on achieving the necessary gains in their training and be ready to perform at their best in Rio."

Great Britain ended up with 39 para-swimming medals at London 2012 - seven golds, 16 silvers and 16 bronzes.