Simmonds shines for ParalympicsGB in day six heats

Swimming News

Ellie Simmonds and Ellie Robinson both made their way through into the Women’s S6 400m Freestyle final on day six of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Both swimmers went out in heat one of the event and were third and fourth fastest qualifiers going into the final tonight.

Boldemere’s Simmonds went out strong and set the pace in the first heat, showing why she is reigning Paralympic champion in this event. Robinson was determined to keep pace with Simmonds. Although the Northampton swimmer was not so quick off the blocks, she stayed just behind Simmonds until the final 25m.

Simmonds made a move in the final stages, showing that she had more gears to play with. The S6 classification swimmer touched in 5:37.75 to take the third place going into the final. Robinson was just a body length behind, touching in 5:41.04.

The two swimmers already have gold medals at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Robinson’s came in the S6 50m Fly on day two, and Simmonds’ in the 200m Individual Medley yesterday.

Paralympic record for Millward in S8 100m Back

Stepanie Millward of Corsham looked set on securing another medal at Rio 2016 after setting a new Paralympic record in the Women’s S8 100m Backstroke. Millward, who won bronze in the 200m Freestyle on day one, touched in 1:13.75 to bag lane four.

Silver medallist in the 100m Fly, Steph Slater, also qualified for the 100m Backstroke final. The Preston swimmer was fourth fastest overall, touching in 1:20.17.

Ollie Hynd of Nova Centurion eased through into the finals after winning heat two of the Men’s 100m Backstroke. The S8 classification swimmer was over a second ahead of his nearest rival, touching in 1:06.12. He goes into the final third fastest.

Wylie and Crouch head into 50m Freestyle final

Both Matt Wylie and Ryan Crouch made their way into the S9 50m Freestyle final after winning their respective heats. Ipswich’s Crouch won the first heat in a very tight race, only just beating his Brazillian rival Ruiter Silva. Crouch touched first with 26.54.

Wylie was the only swimmer to dip below the 26 second mark, claiming lane four in the final with his time of 25.99.

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