Out of the 124 medals won by ParalympicsGB, a quarter of them were won in the pool. The 27-strong Para swimming squad, with 15 debutants, secured a total of 32 medals.
In the first part of our four-part ParalympicsGB highlights series, our editor, Emma Purcell, dives into the success of our British swimmers and rounds up the best of the Para swimming action from the Paris La Defense Arena.
Poppy Maskill makes way for a flood of S14 swimming success
The gold medal rush began in the pool with Games’ debutant Poppy Maskill, who competes in the S14 Para swimming class for intellectually impaired athletes, claiming her first gold medal in the pool in the 100m butterfly, setting a world record in the process.
The 19-year-old went on to win a gold in the 100m backstroke S14 and silvers in the 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley.
She also helped ParalympicsGB win gold in the S14 4x100m freestyle mixed relay, alongside teammates Will Ellard, Rhys Darbey and Olivia Newman-Baronius.
Poppy, who is ParalympicsGB’s most successful multi-medallist of these Games, and was one of the flag bearers at the closing ceremony, said: “I’ve won five medals in Paris, the butterfly was my favourite as it was my first Paralympic medal and a world record. Next time I really want to win five golds. I’ve had a really amazing time and I can’t wait to carry the flag.”
The S14 classification had many more medal successes with Will Ellard winning gold in the Men’s 200m freestyle and silver in the 100m butterfly, Rhys Darbey winning silver in the Men’s 200m medley, Mark Tompsett winning bronze in the Men’s 100m backstroke and Olivia Newman-Baronius winning bronze in the Women’s 100m backstroke.
In addition, Louise Fiddes, who we spoke to ahead of the Games, won gold in the S14 Women’s 100m breaststroke and bronze in the S14 Women’s 200m freestyle. Reacting to reaching the top of the podium in the breaststroke, Louise said:
“I genuinely can’t [believe it], I genuinely can’t. There were so many years when I felt like my dream was slipping away and only in this year, I started getting back to it. I’m in great shape, and I’ve got to thank Dan, my coach at home for that. It was pure determination, I came off that turn, had a little glance and I was like ‘I’m in gold position, I need to get down that other end’.”
Maisie Summers-Newton gains quadruple gold in two consecutive Paralympics
Another successful swimmer included Maisie Summers-Newton, who defended her two gold medals from Tokyo in the Women’s 100m SB6 breaststroke and the Women’s SM6 200m individual medley. Maisie closed her Paris 2024 campaign with a bronze in the Women’s S6 400m freestyle.
She follows in the footsteps of her sporting hero, Ellie Simmonds, who broke the world record in the individual medley in 2012. After her win, Maisie reflected on watching that final 12 years earlier, saying:
“When I was watching Ellie in London 2012, never ever would I have thought I would come away with one Paralympic medal, let alone four. So to come away from my second Paralympic Games defending both of my titles, I’m just so pleased.”
Alice Tai completes long journey back to fitness with multiple Paralympic medals
Swimmer Alice Tai had to relearn how to swim after choosing to have her right leg amputated – now she is a Paralympic Champion.
The 25-year-old elected to amputate her leg below the knee to relieve her of pain only two years ago.
In Paris, she stormed to women’s S8 100m backstroke gold in a Paralympic record time of 1:09.06, 5.91 seconds quicker than the rest of the competition.
“The last three years has been crazy, I’ve had six surgeries on three different limbs over the course of two and a half years,” she said.
“A lot has happened in my personal life. Just being here, I feel that I’ve made myself proud and everyone supporting me proud.
“A lot of people know that it has not been the easiest few years so to come here and swim a time that I’m really happy with just means so much and for that to get me my first individual gold at the Paralympics is super special.”
Alice also got a gold in the Women’s S8 50m freestyle, silver in the Women’s S8 400m freestyle, and two bronze in the Women’s S8 100m butterfly and the Women’s SM8 200m medley, where GB teammate Brock Whiston claimed gold.
Iona Winnifrith makes history on a brilliant night in the pool
Thirteen-year-old Iona Winnifrith became ParalympicsGB’s joint-youngest swimming medallist this century on another successful evening in the pool. Iona was competing in her second final at her debut Games, and as the youngest member of the whole GB team. She secured silver in the Women’s SB7 100m breaststroke.
She admitted disappointment at not claiming gold even as she set a new British record and was only beaten by a world record from Mariia Pavlova.
“It was really cool, I knew I just needed to fight and power off and do what I need to do,” the youngster said.
“Of course, I really wanted that gold, but you can’t have everything. I’m 13, I’m young, but I’m super happy with that performance.
“I’ve got the fly left and then I can just relax and enjoy it and I’m really happy.”
Stephen Clegg proved to himself he can still win golden glory
Stephen Clegg wanted to retire from swimming after missing out on gold in Tokyo but walked away from Paris with two glittering victories and a world record.
The 28-year-old backed up his maiden gold in the 100m backstroke earlier in the Games with a 100m butterfly victory on the final night at La Defense Arena to bring a glittering end to what has been a difficult three years for the swimmer.
Touching the wall in a time of 57.49 seconds for gold, Stephen noted that this was the event on his mind all week and was thrilled to finally complete his butterfly redemption arc.
“The backstroke was a bonus event but this is the one where the passion was, the emotion was and the pressure is,” he said.
“It’s a great feeling to finally get it. I wasn’t too sure when I touched the wall whether I had or not but I did.
“The original outlook after Tokyo was to retire after I didn’t get the gold and I wasn’t enjoying the sport anymore but here I am now.”
Stephen’s gold took ParalympicsGB to a total of 18 gold medals in the pool at Paris 2024 compared to the eight they won in Tokyo, with 32 medals won in the pool across the whole Games.
The other ParalympicsGB swimming medal results are:
- Ellie Challis – Women’s S3 50m Backstroke – Gold
- Grace Harvey – Women’s S5 100m Breaststroke – Gold
- Rebecca Redfern – Women’s SB13 100m Breaststroke – Gold
- Tully Kearney – Women’s S5 200m Freestyle – Gold
- Tully Kearney – Women’s S5 100m Freestyle – Gold
- Faye Rogers – Women’s 100m Butterfly – Gold
- Faye Rogers – Women’s S10 100m Freestyle – Silver
- Brock Whiston – Women’s SM8 200m Medley – Gold
- Brock Whiston – Women’s SB8 100m Breaststroke – Silver
- Callie-Ann Warrington – Women’s 100m Butterfly – Silver
Be sure to catch up on the ParalympicsGB swimming squad at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Channel 4.
Check out our Paris 2024 ParalympicsGB debutants interview series.