The third day of competition at the IPC Swimming World Championships saw The British Disability Swimming Team make their claim on seven more gold medals in Eindhoven.
The first gold on the women’s side came from Eleanor Simmonds who surpassed expectations finishing first in the S6 50m Freestyle. She was ranked second going into the race, but outdid Mirjam de Koning-Peper of the Netherlands to win her second world title in a time of 36.03. Teammate Natalie Jones finished in third place for her second medal of the championships in a time of 37.95.
The next round of excitement for Team GB came during the SB9 100m Breaststroke. Britain’s Harriet Lee and Louise Watkin were ranked first and second respectively in the race and finished in the same order. Lee took an early lead in the race but victory was not certain as Watkin closed the gap in the final 50m. Watkin’s effort fell short and Lee won her first gold medal and set a new British record time of 1:19.86.
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Watkin touched in second at 1:20:96 for her second silver of the championships. She also finished second in the women’s S9 100m Freestyle with Stephanie Millward right behind her for third. The duo finished in 1:03.85 and 1:04.05, respectively.
Following her first gold medal victory Lee said, “I am just so happy right now. To come to my first World Championships and win a gold is just a dream come true. I felt so good in the race and it all went to plan.”
Also winning gold was Fran Williamson who is returning from injury. She finished first in the S3 50m Backstroke with a time of 1:05.38. “I feel really good to have won that medal,” Williamson said. “I was a bit disappointed with the time though. But I didn’t even think that I would make it to the competition let alone win a medal so I am pleased that I have done that.”
In the S6 100m Backstroke Nyree Lewis gave her all for victory in a time of 1:27.30 just ahead of Anastasia Diodorova of Russia. After her victory she reflected, “I am pleased because that time was quicker than this morning. I wasn’t expecting such a fight and I couldn’t see the Russian during the race. My last few metres were so strong and I just wanted to get that gold medal. It is good to see the depth in the event now and the next time I race it I know that it will be a tough fight.”
A strong performance despite the odds gave Rhiannon Henry a gold medal in the women’s S13 100m Butterfly. She was slated to finish third, but surprised everyone by steaming past her competitors to finish first in a time of 1:06.61.
Afterwards she said, “I don’t think that I have stopped smiling since I got out of the pool. World Champion sounds so good to me. I have changed clubs this year and it is good to know that I am seeing the benefits of this so soon. We have put a lot of work into my final 50m and it worked tonight.”
Caitlin Ritchie, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
