British para swimming veteran Ellie Simmonds swam the 2019’s fastest S6 400 free in Glasgow at the World Para Swimming World Series Friday.
Simmonds, 24, went 5:19.27, just about half a second off her own British record of 5:18.69. With the swim, she punched her ticket to the 2019 Para Swimming World Championships in London this summer.
“I wanted it so badly in my heart – I want to go to the World Champs and I wanted to do it for everyone who supports me,” Simmonds said in a press release. “To have the World Champs in my home pool, where I train each and every day and to hopefully get picked for the team now and to represent Great Britain at another World Championships, I’m so excited.”
The five-time Paralympic champion took a break from swimming in 2017 and considered retirement after Rio.
“It feels amazing. To go 5:19, nearly a personal best after having a year off from the sport, when my aim for this meet was just to qualify for London – I want to cry! I’m so emotional and so happy,” she said.
Canadian S10 Paralympic champ Aurelie Rivard took second place in 4:33.96 and Poland’s Oliwia Jablonska (S10) was third in 4:36.40.
Note: swims completed by swimmers in multi-class events are scored based on how close the swimmer’s time is to their classification’s world record.
I have been following the IPC swim meet in Glasgow – how do swimmers progress to Finals in their various categories?