Tokyo Paralympics: Tully Kearney and Maisie Summers-Newton win golds for ParalympicsGB
Tully Kearney broke the world record by over two seconds to take gold for ParalympicsGB in S5 100m freestyle before Maisie Summers-Newton set a new world record in the SM6 200m individual medley final.
Kearney’s gold, which she won in a time of 1:14.39, adds to the silver that she secured in the S5 200m freestyle on the opening day of the Games.
“I was obviously quite frustrated with how I swam the race yesterday,” she said following her gold-medal swim.
“Unfortunately through the injuries, I didn’t have the fitness to hold on. Today I was determined no one was going to beat me.
“It was so worth it – I have so many people to thank, if it wasn’t for my mother… after Rio I was told I could never swim again, because of my limitations. If it wasn’t for her forcing me to swim again, I wouldn’t be here.
“Even 19 days ago, I was in so much pain with my shoulder – all credit to the physio to help me get to this point.”
Summers-Newton grew up idolising five-time Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds and now she has followed in Simmonds’ footsteps by becoming a Paralympic champion.
Summers-Newton produced a stunning swim in the SM6 200m individual medley final and took charge at the midway point.
The 19-year-old and Simmonds qualified first and third for the final, with compatriot Grace Harvey sandwiched between them.
Yelyzaveta Mereshko of Ukraine laid down a marker in the other heat with a world-record time of 2:56.90 and Summers-Newton was clearly inspired by that feat, as successfully lowered it to 2:56.68 just hours later.
Read: Cristiano Ronaldo: Juventus forward tells club he wants to leave amid Man City links
Silver medallist Mereshko lagged 1.36 seconds behind, while GB flagbearer Simmonds – winner of this event in both London and Rio 2016 – had to settle for fifth, 7.69 seconds off the pace, with Harvey sixth.
“She’s inspiring that next generation now. She’s following in my footsteps four years previously, now she’s the one”, Simmonds said of Summers-Newton.
“She’s the nicest girl in the world. I’m so happy for her. She got, I think, inspired by me and I’m sure so many people watching tonight are going to get inspired by her. She’s carrying on that and it’s amazing.
“We saw Mareshko do it this morning, I was like ‘You can do this.’ And she did.”
Summers-Newton, who like Simmonds has achondroplasia, said: “It’s really, really cool. Ellie is such an amazing swimmer.
“Everything she’s done for para sport is just incredible and I’ve definitely got used to racing her lots now, especially since she got back from Rio so I’m definitely used to it.
“Having her there is really supportive and comforting in a way, knowing she’s done it for such a long time. She’s such a staple in para sport.”
