Dublin serves up medal bonanza for GBR
Britain’s Para-Swimmers had a successful day at the office on the second day of competition of the World Para Swimming European Championships - winning nine medals, including three gold and two World records.
Tom Hamer charged away from the field to smash his own Men’s S14 200m Freestyle record, the winning time 1:55.71. By securing the 2018 gold medal he managed to successfully defend his European title.
Tom Hamer said:
“I really wasn’t expecting the World record, I felt a little out of shape if I’m honest. I came back from the Commonwealth Games and I really enjoyed myself out there, then I had a few months to get back in shape. I’m really happy with that swim and it proves I’ve got so much more left in the tank.”
Talking specifically about his world record winning swim, Tom said:
“I felt in control, I tried to nail the first 100m and then try to come back at the end, and it paid off. This year does feel like a bit of a breakthrough year, I’ve had two major internationals and to be able to go home from both with golds and world records is amazing.”
On his debut racing for Great Britain at a senior international, Norwich-based Jordan Catchpole, made it a second GBR one-two of the week, when he claimed the silver medal in a new personal best time of 1:59.64.
Maisie Summers-Newton (pictured above) served up a blistering swim in the Women’s SM6 200m Individual Medley final to win gold and claim the European title in a new World record. Her winning time of 2:59.60, lowered the previous world record held by Eleanor Simmonds by two tenths of a second.
Fresh from touching for gold, Maisie Summers-Newton said:
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I didn’t think I was going to go that fast, I just wanted to go quicker than this morning and that was a PB. I just can’t believe it. This means everything! To be racing against these swimmers at my first Europeans, and to get a World record is amazing.”
She was flanked on the podium by Ukraine’s Yelyzav Mereshko for silver and Verena Schott of Germany claimed the bronze medal.
Paralympic Champion Eleanor Simmonds finished just outside the medal in fourth, her time at the wall was 3:06.18 and fellow Brit Grace Harvey touched home in a time of 3:10.43 for sixth.
It was total GBR domination in the final of the Women’s S14 200m Freestyle final as our trio of swimmers claimed all three medals. Bethany Firth who took gold two years ago at the Funchal 2016 Championships, was back on top of the podium as she touched first for gold in a time of 2:05.41, a new season’s best for her.
Bethany Firth said:
“I think it’s great that we’ve all managed to get on the podium today. I’m so happy that I have been able to retain my European title.”
Silver belonged to Jessica-Jane Applegate, she was the second of the brits to reach the wall in 2:07.29. For Louise Fiddes it was a second trip to the podium in as many days of competition, this time she had to settle for bronze but posted a new personal best of 2:09.26.
Andrew Mullen went in the Men’s S5 50m Backstroke and secured Great Britain a bronze medal in a time of 36.39, an improvement on his morning heats swim. The single length splash and dash race of the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre saw gold go to Yaraslav Semeneko of Ukraine and silver to the swimmer from Italy Antonio Fantini.
The penultimate swim of the night for the British Para-Swimming team saw Lewis White go in the Men’s S9 100m Freestyle where he took silver in a new lifetime best of 56.29. Lewis joined Simone Barlaam and Federico Morlacchi both of Italy who claimed the gold and bronze medals respectively.
Toni Shaw, made her first appearance at these European Championships and a first appearance for Great Britain. She went in the Women’s S9 100m Freestyle where she hung on in the dying moments of the race and secured bronze in a time of 1:04.27.
