Great Britain make golden start in Dublin

Great Britain’s swimmers have made a golden start to the 2018 World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships.

They won a total of six golds with some impressive performances on the first day of the competition in Dublin.

Louise Fiddes put in a great last 50m leg and secured her first European title on her debut appearance at a senior international for Great Britain.

She touched in 1:14.17 to take the gold in the Women’s SB14 100m Breaststroke final.

“This means everything,” said Fiddes, “All the training, all the work my coaches have put in, it’s all come together. It’s so incredible to do it at my first international.

“My coaches told me to enjoy the experience but I still felt some pressure. I was a little nervous before the race but the plan worked out in the end.”

Fiddes’ team mate, and multi-Paralympic Champion Bethany Firth (Northern Ireland), secured a bronze in the same event with a time of 1:16.84.

The silver medal went to Spain’s Michelle Alonso Morales who touched in 1:15.55.

Medal on international debut

Another athlete secured a medal on her international debut for Great Britain.

Megan Richter picked up a silver in the Women’s SM8 200m Individual Medley with a time of 2:54.58.

She qualified in second with a PB only to lower it again, by a further two seconds, in the final to secure her place on the podium.

Richter said: “I could see her [Supiot of France] catching me and I knew I just needed to keep going and give it everything – my legs are so tired now.

“I’ve worked so hard for this. All the early mornings and extra training and I’m just so happy it’s paid off and I’ve got a medal.

“I’ve still got the backstroke which is my main event and I’m really looking forward to that.”

Italy’s Francesca Palazzo took gold after clocking 2:48.98and the bronze medal went to Claire Supiot of France (2:54.79).

Robinson with medal at World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships 2018

Robinson wins battle of the Brits

The Women’s S6 50m Freestyle saw Tully Kearney and Northampton’s Eleanor Robinson and Maisie Summers-Newton race in the final.

Robinson won the battle of the Brits as she claimed bronze after touching in 34.31.

“I’ve slightly mixed emotions after that swim,” said Robinson. “The time I’m not so happy with but it’s great to get inside the top three and get myself and the team a medal on the opening day in Dublin.

“For me, the focus is Tokyo 2020 and there’s lots of work that I know I need to do before then.”

Summers-Newton, who is making her senior international debut for Great Britain, finished fourth overall in a time of 34.70.

She improved on her time from the heats and lowered her personal best for the second time of the day. Kearney finished seventh overall with a time of 37.50.

The gold medal went to Yelyzav Mereshko, of Ukraine, who swam a world record breaking time of 32.78 and silver went to her team-mate, Viktoriia Savtsova (32.79).

The Men’s 4x100m Freestyle 34pt relay saw Michael Jones, Jacob Leach, Ollie Hynde and Lewis White battle hard to finish fourth.

They clocked 4:03.52 behind Italy (3:50.86) who took gold, Ukraine (3:53.92) and Spain (4:00.75).

British one-two

The Men’s SB14 100m Breaststroke final saw a British one-two.

Scotland’s Scott Quin successfully defended the European title after a strong final leg (1:07.21).

Quinn said: “A great result for me, obviously not my best as I would’ve liked to get a PB. This morning I was a bit nervous, a bit tense but this evening it all came good and I’ve defended my title from two years ago.”

Team-mate Conner Morrison, who trains at the University of Aberdeen, secured silver after coming from outside of the medal positions (1:07.53).

The SB14 Men’s 100m Breaststroke bronze medal went to Ukraine’s Vasyl Krainyk (1:07.88).

  • Head to World Para Swimming for full results, the schedule and to watch a live stream of the action from Dublin.
Top