Russell and Kearney lead the way as Brits impress at Para Swimming World Series

Hannah Russell and Tully Kearney led an impressive set of performances from the British Swimming team at the fourth leg of the Para Swimming World Series in Germany.

Russell claimed Britain’s only gold medal of the competition in the Women’s 50m Backstroke, while S5 swimmer Kearney admitted she was ‘unbelievably happy’ after shattering her own world record in the Women’s 50m Freestyle.

Britain’s team of 12 swimmers who took part in the three-day Schwimm- und Sprunghalle competition at Berlin’s Europasportpark (SSE) returned with a total of six World Series medals.

S12 swimmer Russell clocked 31.98 to win the Women’s 50m Backstroke with 907 points, with team-mate Grace Harvey (S6) 10th after scoring 751 points for her time of 42.78.

Kearney bagged two medals at the event with her world record time of 35.28 earning her 944 points and a bronze in the Women’s 50m Freestyle – just ahead of Russell who took fourth in 27.86 for a score of 837.

She tweeted: “Another new WR this evening! Women’s S5 50m freestyle World Record now stands at 35.28.

“Currently the only female S5 to have gone sub 36! So unbelievably happy with my performances following Covid and falling out of my chair this month!”

Harvey doubles up

The 24-year-old finished one place better in the Women’s 100m Freestyle as she took silver with 951 points for her time of 1:16.86 – beaten to top spot by Germany’s Tanja Scholz (S4) who set a new world record to score 1,055.

Scholz also set a new world record in the Women’s 200m Freestyle ahead of Harvey, who had to settle for silver after clocking 2:41.47 for 813 points.

Harvey also added a bronze to her collection after taking third spot in the Women’s 200m Individual Medley with a score of 898 points after touching home in 3:04.96.

Tom Hamer (S14) was also a bronze medallist in the Men’s 200m Freestyle.

He scored 806 points for his time of 1:58.40 in a race which was won by Argentina’s Inaki Basiloff (S7) in a world record time of 2:12.95 for 888 points.

Oliver Carter (S10) claimed fifth spot with 733 points for his time of 2:02.18.

Britain’s team also racked up a further nine final places, five B final appearances and 12 C final finishes.