Poppy Maskill and Tully Kearney claim ParalympicsGBs first golds in Paris

Swimmers Poppy Maskill and Tully Kearney delivered Great Britain’s first Paralympic golds of Paris 2024.

Maskill, 19, set a new world record of one minute and three seconds to claim the women’s 100m butterfly S14 title.

Kearney then took the S5 200m freestyle crown in 2:46.50, upgrading the silver she won at Tokyo 2020.

The victory secured a second career Paralympic gold for the 27-year-old, who is reigning S5 100m freestyle champion.

Maskill’s success at La Defense Arena followed silver for fellow British teenager William Ellard in the men’s equivalent event.

Ellard, 18, touched the line in 54.86 seconds and was pipped to gold by Danish athlete Alexander Hillhouse.

Asked how she was feeling, Maskill said: “Unreal. Weird. I was just hoping that I swam as hard as I could, and see what happens.

“It feels so weird to be the first gold medallist for ParalympicsGB.”

Olivia Newman-Baronius – the joint world record holder – finished fourth, behind team-mate Maskill, China’s Yui Lam Chan and Russian Valeriia Shabalina.

Kearney held off the challenge of Ukraine’s Iryna Poida and Italian Monica Boggioni to win the final race of the opening day of the Games.

Having suffered a head injury last year, she was still unsure if she would compete in France as recently as a fortnight ago.

“I really wanted redemption for Tokyo,” said Kearney, who was born with cerebral palsy and developed generalised dystonia – a neurological movement disorder characterised by continuous or intermittent muscle contractions – as a teenager.

“I was never happy with that silver, so to go and get gold in the 200m freestyle was just incredible.

“It’s been really hard with the concussion and then the last three, four months, really hard with mental health issues.

“Even a few weeks ago, we weren’t sure whether I was going to come out and compete or how many events I’d be able to do.

“I’m just absolutely ecstatic. A bit speechless.”

Published: 29/08/2024 by Radio NewsHub