Gold for Frederiksen
Heather Frederiksen successfully defended her Paralympic Games title in the S8 100 metres backstroke.
Last Updated: 04/09/12 8:35pm
Heather Frederiksen was reduced to tears after successfully defending her Paralympic Games title in the S8 100 metres backstroke.
Frederiksen qualified comfortably fastest and did not disappoint in the final as she raced into the lead at the turn.
It looked as though she would be attacked down the final length but she dug in and easily held off Jessica Long of the United States and Olesya Vladykina of Russia to win in 1 minute 17.00 seconds.
The 26-year-old has battled ill health over the past year which has seen her hospitalised and bed-ridden and came into London after just six weeks' training.
"I'm so pleased. I really, really wanted that today, more than anyone ever knows, and I wasn't going to let that go. I was so hungry for it," Frederiksen said.
"I turned at 50 and thought I've just got to keep it going - the crowd got me home. I've raced Jess a few times this year. I knew what I had to do and I've done it."
Simmonds third
Ellie Simmonds won her third medal of the Games but could not claim another gold as she took a bronze in the S6 50m freestyle.
The 17-year-old finished third in 36.11secs behind Mirjam de Koning-Peper and Victoria Arlen and was delighted to add another medal to her collection.
She said: "I'm so happy. I'm really chuffed to get a bronze medal, I can't believe it - I was only looking to get a PB.
"It's just going so well for me. I'm going to go back and prepare and look forward to racing my 100."
The evening session at the Aquatics Centre began with Oliver Hynd claiming bronze for ParalympicsGB in the men's S8 100 metres backstroke.
The 17-year-old touched in 1 minute 08.35 seconds to secure his second medal of the meet after his silver in the S8 400m freestyle.
Team-mates Thomas Young and Sean Fraser were fourth and fifth after they replicated exactly their qualification positions from this morning's heats.
More medals
Steph Millward claimed silver in the S9 400m freestyle, taking her third medal of the Games in the process.
Millward was never out of the medal positions, going from third to second at the halfway stage and touching in a time of 4:40.01 - a European record.
The race was won by South African Natalie du Toit who claimed her third successive title. Amy Marren, at just 14 years old, was fourth with Lauren Steadman sixth.
Matt Walker claimed his first medal of the Games when he won bronze in the S7 50m freestyle.
