Tuesday 13 September 2016

Ellie Simmonds wins fifth Paralympic gold medal

Ellie Simmonds

Ellie Simmonds wins fifth Paralympic gold medal on Monday.

Wheelchair racer Weir could finish only fifth in attempting to defend his T54 400m crown - his first Paralympic loss in eight years.

But swimming ace Simmonds made no mistake, plundering gold in her favourite SM6 200m individual medley and twice breaking the world record.

"I'm really chuffed," said the 21-year-old, who produced the first ever sub-3 minute swim (2:59.81) to take the final and bag her fifth Paralympic gold.

"Going under three minutes is a target I'd set and I've wanted to go under for a long time."

Simmonds' win completed a golden treble for GB in the pool with Sascha Kindred, 38, producing a fairy tale finish to his 22-year career and Susie Rodgers winning the 50m butterfly.

Kindred, who has cerebral palsy, won the men's 200 individual medley in a world record 2:38.47 - 16 years after first winning the title.

It gave him his 13th career Paralympic medal, the six golds of which have come at four separate Games.

"What a rollercoaster day this has been," said Kindred, who was disqualified then reinstated after his heat.

"To swim like that, it's just amazing, I don't know what more you can ask for.

"I thought about retirement after London but I wasn't happy with how I performed there and I knew I had more in me.

"I didn't want that to be my last competitive swimming memory. This is the perfect ending."

Weir ended a stressful day by qualifying for Tuesday's 1,500m final - 24 hours after the birth of his fourth child, Lenny. It is tough," he said.

"It's definitely my last Games, I can feel it. I could never do another four-year cycle. But I'm enjoying it."


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