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Rio 2016: Simmonds victorious and Clegg through to final on Paralympics day five

Posted: 13th September 2016 - 7:58am
Rio 2016: Simmonds victorious on Paralympic Games and  Clegg through to final on day five

Ellie Simmonds joined a hat-trick of swimming victories in evening action in the pool to make it an exciting finish to day five at the Rio Paralympic Games.

Former Loughborough College student Ellie secured gold in the 200m individual medley SM6, the fifth Paralympic gold of her career, becoming the first SM6 swimmer to dip below three minutes in the event as she clocked a world record 2:59.81.

Fellow Great Britain teammates Sascha Kindred and Susie Rodgers were also victorious, in the 200m individual medley SM6 and 50m butterfly S7 respectively – with all three medals won inside 38 minutes.

“To swim a personal best, get a world record and another gold medal, I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” said 21 year old Ellie.

“I just focused on myself and didn’t think about what anyone else was doing.

“The Paralympics brings out the best in me. I love the pressure, it drives me forward and I just want to go out there and smash it.”

Elsewhere former Loughborough College student Libby Clegg was the final Brit on the track, clocking 25.24 alongside guide Chris Clarke to win their 200m T11 semi-final and qualify for Tuesday’s final fourth fastest overall.

Also on day six, after taking gold in the 200m individual medley S6, Simmonds will return to the pool in search of a third consecutive S6 400m S6 freestyle gold.

Pictured: Former Loughborough College student Ellie Simmonds on her way to gold and a world record in the 200m individual medley SM6 at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio (onEdition)