Simmonds becomes GB's youngest champion

By Paul Carter

Ellie Simmonds has become Great Britain’s youngest-ever individual gold medallist in either the Paralympic or Olympic Games at the age of just 13, after storming to a sensational victory in the S6 100m freestyle in the Water Cube.

Simmonds, from Swansea, produced an astonishing swim in the last 25m to come from behind in fourth to beat red-hot favourite Mirjam de Koning-Peper from Holland into second place, with a time of 1:18.75.

An ecstatic but tearful Simmonds was barely able to contain her delight at the finish, and described the result as “ just amazing”.

She said: “I’m just so happy, I didn’t believe that I’d be able to do that! All I did was kick my legs and just go for it.

“I didn’t realise that I was the first person, I just went down there and went my hardest, I just can’t believe it.”

She will now race again in the 400m freestyle on Sunday.

Asked about her future ambitions, especially looking ahead to the 2012 Games, she confessed that she just wanted to enjoy the present.
“I’m not focusing on that event yet,” she said. “I’ve got to go through Beijing first before I get my head into London.”

Elsewhere in the race, Simmond’s teammate Natalie Jones was unable to add to the bronze medal she picked up on day one, finishing down in fifth in 1:21.53.