Paralympic Games: New record as in-form Ellie Simmonds swims to gold

WHEN Channel 4 launched their Paralympic coverage under the banner “Meet the Superhumans” it was Ellie Simmonds they had in mind.

Simmonds produced a stunning world record swim in the 400m freestyle last night, smashing her personal best by over five seconds to clock 5:19.74 and claim her third career gold – and at 17 surely more will follow.

It was an epic race that wasn’t decided until the final few metres but Simmonds got her tactics spot on. American swimmer Victoria Arlen, controversially ruled out of the S6 classification earlier this week, before she was readmitted on appeal, set the pace.

But in the final 100 metres, Simmonds started closing the gap and making good her advantage.

“I can’t believe it, I just dug in deeper than I have ever before, gritted my teeth and went for it,” said Simmonds.

“It means so much to win a gold at your home Paralympics and the pressure was quite hard to deal with.

“I knew Victoria was really on it and my coach said it would take a 5:19 to win it, but I didn’t believe that I could go that fast.

“It’s just so emotional. The crowd were amazing, they got me to that wall first.”

Rebecca Adlington admits she struggled with the pressure that followed her double Olympic gold in Beijing. Simmonds also won double gold in Beijing to establish herself as the face of these Paralympics – and hasn’t been off the top step of the podium since.

Indeed, in three subsequent major championships, she has won 15 medals – and all of them have been gold, including ten world titles.

She admits she struggles to watch television coverage of those wins, such is her acute embarrassment about the tears that followed as the enormity of her achievement sunk in. But the tears flowed again yesterday.

“I’ve been trying to concentrate on my own race,” she added. “I’m really excited about the rest of this meet now because my form is great. But right now I’m pretty tired.”

In the velodrome, GB’s Sarah Storey took her second gold in the women’s individual C4-5 500m time trial, while on the track Richard Whitehead won gold in the men’s 200m T42 final. Equestrian Natasha Baker, riding Cabral, also won gold in the individual championship test grade 2.