British Gas Swimming Championships 2013

Did you know?
Born with achondroplasia (dwarfism), Ellie competes in the S6 classification and says she was inspired to take up swimming after watching Nyree Kindred win gold in the same classification at the Athens Paralympics in 2000. Ellie's double Paralympic gold in 2008 earned her a number of accolades, including an MBE and a Blue Peter Gold Badge. Although she trains full time, Ellie is enthusiastic about her education and, having completed her GCSE's in 2011, is studying for A-levels in world development, history and citizenship. It's fair to say Ellie is not without a sense of irony - she once auditioned for (and was awarded) the role of 'the giant' in her Primary School play.

Ellie's Career
Ellie Simmonds burst into the public consciousness when she won double gold as a 13-year old at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. Despite being the youngest member of the British team in China, Ellie sprung a surprise to win the 100m Freestyle before breaking her own world record by more than seven seconds for a second title in the 400m Freestyle. The teenager has gone from strength to strength since Beijing, winning five European golds in 2009, four World Championships titles in 2010 and adding another two European golds (both in world records) in 2011. At last season's London 2012 Paralympics, she won another two golds over 400m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley - both in world records - as well as a silver in the 100m Free and bronze over 50m Free.