Paralympics: Eleanor, 14, Youngest Swimmer in 20 Years Brings Home Gold to UK

Eleanor Simmonds has triumphed in the women's S6 100m freestyle in 1min 18.75secs to become the youngest British Paralympic champion since 12-year-old Joanne Round won a swimming relay gold in Seoul 20 years ago.

A tearful Simmonds was stunned.

“I can’t believe it,” she said. “I told my mum not to cry before.”

Holland’s Mirjam de Koning-Peper was second and world record holder Doramitzi Gonzalez of Mexico was third, while Britain’s Natalie Jones, who won bronze in the SM6 200m individual medley on day one, was fifth.

Simmonds added: “In the last 25 (metres) I knew everybody was around me, so I just got my head into it, got my last bit of energy and just went for it.”

Simmonds, who was born in Walsall but competes for Swansea, forecast a medal last night – but she predicted the wrong colour.

“I had a dream about it, but I only came second.”

Simmonds, who will be 14 in November and has Achondroplasia (dwarfism), broke her own British record in securing victory – and her best event is yet to come.

She is the world record-holder in the S6 400m freestyle, which takes place on Sunday, after setting the mark in the British Championships earlier this year.