Paralympic Games: James Anderson’s one last chance to win swimming medal

JAMES Anderson has one last chance at London 2012 to maintain his record of winning a medal at every Paralympic Games he has attended – and he is going to give it his all to do so.

The 49-year-old, who finished eighth in his first event – the 100m freestyle – returned to the pool for the 50m backstroke yesterday, but narrowly failed to medal. He finished an agonising fourth in the final after clocking a time of 1:07.30minutes.

Anderson now has just the 50m freestyle left in order to add to his impressive Paralympic medal haul which stands at six golds, eight silvers and two bronzes since Barcelona 1992 and he’s vowed to work harder than ever before for it.

“I worked so hard and gave so much, I gave it my all. I felt fine in the pool. I swam well in the morning and I gave it my all,” said Anderson.

“I have got the 50m freestyle left now and I will work really hard for that. That is my main event and I want to do well in that. The crowd are wonderful and they have really pushed me on. They have pushed me all the way in every event. That is the best crowd that I have had and these Games have been wonderful and I am really enjoying myself. The team is having success and I am enjoying that too.”

Elsewhere in the pool yesterday, Oliver Hynd became Paralympic champion in the SM8 200 metres individual medley with an unstoppable performance at the Aquatics Centre.

The 17-year-old has enjoyed a superb Paralympic debut and came into the race with a silver and bronze already from the meet. Fourth after the opening butterfly leg, Hynd moved through the field on the backstroke to turn second at halfway.

The Nova Centurion swimmer had moved into first with 50m to go and his opponents made no headway as the Briton clocked two minutes 24.63 seconds for victory. Brother Sam was just out of the medals in fourth.