Eleanor makes history

Tuesday, 9 September 2008

Eleanor Simmonds, became Great Britain's youngest individual Paralympic gold medal-winner yesterday winning the 100 metres freestyle in Beijing and beating 39-year-old Holland swimmer, Mirjam de Koning-Peper, in 1min 18.75sec.

Eleanor, who was born with achondroplasia, or dwarfism, has been swimming since the age of five. She said: “I can't believe I'm a Paralympic champion. In the last 25m I just got my head down and went for it. I have dreamed of being a Paralympic medallist but didn't think it would happen yet."

At 13, Eleanor is the youngest British Paralympic champion since 12-year-old Joanne Round who won a swimming relay gold in Seoul 20 years ago. She kept Britain in third place in the medals table, with seven golds, one more than Australia, but one fewer than the United States and China.

Eleanor was one of the youngest competitors at the UK School Games two years ago. Back then she was already focussed on making it to the top of her sport and showed a confidence that bellied her years,

At the time Eleanor said: “My ambition is to goon the podium at the Paralympics and get a gold medal and a world record. I’d like to get it in London really because it’s at home.”

Watch out for Eleanor at London 2012 because if she performs as she did in Beijing, she’s sure to win another gold medal.