Jon Fox signals return to form with world record

Jonathan Fox signaled a spectacular return to form with a world record at the 2016 British Summer Championships in Sheffield.

With less than 50 days to go until the Rio 2016 Paralympics, Fox lowered his own S7 100m Backstroke world record to 1:09.15.

The 25-year old’s previous world record was a 1:09.52 effort from 2013, set a year after Fox landed Paralympic gold in the same event at London 2012.

His progress took a halt in 2014 and 2015, with the English swimmer needing surgery for an ongoing shoulder injury. But he has shown signs of his best form in the 100m Back this season, not least on the way to winning European gold in Funchal in May.

And Fox underlined his status as the one to beat in Rio with his performance in Sheffield, sitting more than two seconds clear in the 2016 world rankings.

Millward claims women’s MC 100m Back crown

Having set a world record in the heats, Stephanie Millward claimed the women’s MC 100m Backstroke title.

The 34-year old is competing in her first event as an S8 swimmer, having been reclassified in June.

And after a world record 1:12.94 this morning, Millward claimed overall gold with a 1:13.30 effort – still more than six seconds faster than any other S8 swimmer has been this year.

Bethany Firth was just 0.03 seconds shy of her own S14 100m Backstroke world record as she won silver in 1:04.73.

Northampton’s Eleanor Robinson was the third English para-swimmer to win gold on the night. The S6 swimmer, who will make her Paralympic debut this season, claimed the MC 50m Butterfly title in 36.37.

• Click here to view results from the 2016 British Summer Championships in Sheffield.