Mar Gunnarsson is a Paralympic swimmer, composer, and performer. He joined the Breakfast Show to talk about a life that flows effortlessly between the pool and the piano.

Representing Iceland in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, Mar described the event as unforgettable and a highlight of his life. It was equal parts competition and celebration. “The French really pulled it off,” he said, contrasting it with the more subdued Tokyo games held during the pandemic.

Swimming has always been a part of his life. He began in Iceland and continued in Luxembourg after his family moved there in search of better educational opportunities for him as a blind child. Despite the challenges, Mar adapted, learning Braille, navigating with a cane, and picking up multiple languages. It was also in Luxembourg where his passion for music took root.

Now based in Manchester, he’s studying at the Royal Northern College of Music and writing music that blends orchestral depth with pop sensibilities. His upcoming EP, set to drop May 9, includes the single 'Lucky Star', a collaboration with his sister and recorded with a full symphony orchestra. He says that it is about discovering that the things we search for may already be close to us.

Mar creates through instinct and emotion, often composing melodies while swimming or exploring ideas at the piano for hours. Lyrics come via his creative partner Tomas, where together they turn ideas into full musical narratives.

Though he's competed on the world’s biggest athletic stage, music remains his first love and lifelong companion. “I’ll always swim,” he said with a smile, “but I hope to be musically competitive forever.”