Paralympic Games: Andrew Mullen eyes Rio after missing out on medal

By GERARD MEAGHER
Published on 08/09/2012 01:55

AFTER a second fourth-place finish at the London 2012 Paralympics, Andrew Mullen would be forgiven for thinking the glass is half-empty – but the 15-year-old swimmer insists it’s brimming as he already targets the medals at Rio 2016.

The Glasgow teenager qualified fourth fastest for last night’s 50m butterfly final – and the evening medal showdown went to form as Mullen touched home in 40.04 seconds at the London 2012 Aquatics Centre.

It came just 24 hours after his fourth-place finish in the 50m backstroke and eight days after coming home eighth in the 50m freestyle in what has been a busy debut Paralympics for Mullen.

Mullen was never really in the mix for a medal in last night’s final, however, with Brazil’s Daniel Dias romping to gold in a new world record of 34.15 with the Scot trailing home nearly three seconds behind bronze medallist He Junquan of China, going slower than the British record of 39.71 he set in his heat.

But, when Dias returns to defend his title at Rio 2016, Mullen is convinced he will have closed the gap. “Overall I’m pleased with the swim, it’s my second-fastest time ever and I executed my race plan really well,” said Mullen.

Elsewhere, six-time Paralympic champion and 17-time medallist Jim Anderson saw his bid to add to his tally fail as the 49-year-old Scot crashed out of the 50m freestyle heats, touching home in sixth place in 1:10.61 minutes.