Ellie Challis sets new Paralympic record as seven Brits reach finals from hectic heats

Teenager Ellie Challis set a new Paralympics record as seven swimmers gave themselves a chance of adding to the British medal tally following a hectic heats session at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

Day seven of the Games saw 10 British athletes in acton and there promises to be some fantastic finals with three ParalympicGB swimmers going for glory in the Women’s SM14 200m Individual Medley – while only 0.92 seconds separates the entire field in the Women’s S9 100m Freestyle.

Seventeen-year-old Challis set her new Paralympic record time of 1:10.37 in the SB2 50m Breaststroke. 

Challis knocked 3.58 seconds off the previous best of 1:13.95 set by China’s Qiuping Peng at Rio 2016 Games.

However, she was swimming up a classification in the SB3 race and just missed out on a place in the final, taking 10th spot overall.

Louise Fiddes was initially disqualified from her SM14 200m Individual Medley heat which she won in a time of 2:33.17.

But she was later reinstated following an appeal meaning three British swimmers will be in this morning’s final.

Job done for Reece

Bethany Firth was the second fastest qualifier, clocking 2:27.16 as she won her heat ahead of team-mate Jessica-Jane Applegate who finished in 2:31.48.

In the men’s race, Reece Dunn will be looking to add to the three medals he has already picked up at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Dunn won his heat in 2:12.61 to qualify second fastest but there was disappointment for Jordan Catchpole who narrowly missed out on a place in the final after touching home in 2:16.35 to take ninth overall.

The Women’s S9 100m Freestyle saw Toni Shaw finish second in her heat in 1:03.59 and she will swim in lane five in the final.

Stephanie Millward was 16th overall in a time of 1:08.19.

Britain also has a good chance of a medal in the Men’s S12 100m Freestyle as Stephen Clegg won his heat and was the fastest qualifier in a time of 53.84.

In the Women’s race, Hannah Russell booked her final spot after finishing in 1:01.81 and fourth fastest overall from the heats.

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