Ollie Hynd wins gold in swimming medley
Ollie Hynd comes first in the 200m individual medley, giving Great Britain a perfect start today in the Aquatics Centre.
(Pictures from Channel 4)
The 17-year-old’s gold in the SM8 classification follows a silver in the S8 400m freestyle and bronze in the 100m S8 backstroke. His parents Helen and Darrell told Channel 4 News: “We’re so proud of Ollie. He has worked so hard for this moment. A big thanks to all those who have supported him.”
Ollie’s brother Sam, who also raced in the four-stroke medley, had to settle for fourth, with China’s Jiachao Wang taking the silver.
After the gold, Rob Welbourn won bronze in the S10 400m freestyle, while Hannah Russell came third in the S12 100m backstroke – her third medal of the Paralympics.
Charlotte Henshaw won a silver in the SB6 100m breaststroke, with Liz Johnson taking bronze. They lost out to 14-year-old Ukrainian Viktoria Savtsova.
Ollie Hynd told Channel 4: “I can’t believe it. I held my own in a strong field. When I finished I didn’t want to be believe it. I’m a Paralympic champion, so I’m over the moon. I’ve had times I wanted to hit, so every medal’s been a bonus. It’s just been amazing.”
Paralympic record
In the heats this morning, Henshaw broke the Paralympic record set by team-mate Johnson minutes earlier as they took the top two places in the breaststroke final. Johnson was the defending champion in the SB6 breaststroke.
I finished I didn’t want to be believe it. I’m a Paralympic champion, so I’m over the moon. Ollie Hynd
Johnson, who has cerebral palsy, has taken part in two Paralympic Games, winning a gold in Beijing in 2008.
Hannah Russell, already a double medallist on her Paralympic debut, was fastest in the heats for the S12 100m backstroke, but she had to settle for a bronze in the final.
Louise Watkin claimed silver in the S9 50m freestyle with China’s Lin Ping winning gold.
Ellie Simmonds is ParalympicsGB’s star of the pool, with two golds and a bronze. Her final race is at the weekend. Heather Frederiksen, Jessica-Jane Applegate and Jonathan Fox have also won gold medals in the pool.
