Rio Paralympics 2016: Ellie Simmonds sets new world record and takes gold in the SM6 individual medley final
British swimmer, 21, was unstoppable in the pool over 200m as she cruised home for fifth Paralympic gold
SWIMMING SUPERSTAR Ellie Simmonds last night produced another golden Paralympic moment.
The 21-year-old became a legend of the sport by storming to victory in the women’s SM6 200m individual medley in Rio.
Simmonds retained her Paralympic title in a time of 2min 59.81sec at a raucous Olympic Aquatics Stadium.
This was Simmonds’ fifth gold medal spread over eight incredible years spent in the limelight of elite sport.
The Walsall-born competitor first came to nationwide prominence when, aged 13 years old, she won two titles at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics.
Four years later, the then teenager underlined her London 2012 poster-girl status by winning two further gold medals — and her smile and tears in home waters made her an even greater star.
Now, her Rio Games are properly up-and-running with this superb gold medal.
Simmonds, who has achondroplasia, has a rather busy programme out here in Brazil — so she had little time to party this success.