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Disability Sport Contents:  Paralympics 2008

13:15 GMT, Friday, 12 September 2008 14:15 UK

GB storm to gold double in pool

Britain bagged two stunning swimming golds on Friday with teenager Sam Hynd and Liz Johnson impressing in Beijing.

Hynd, 17, broke his own world record to win the 400m freestyle ahead of Peter Leek in four minutes 26.25 seconds.

While Johnson battled to become 100m breaststroke SB6 champion just 10 days after her mother died from cancer.

South Africa's Natalie Du Toit continued her quest for five titles, after winning her fourth gold in the 400m freestyle in a world record time.

It was an emotional victory for 22-year-old Johnson, who dedicated her medal to her mum who first got her interested in swimming.

BBC PARALYMPICS BLOG
"He is a well-rounded kid and at only 17 years of age is showing a maturity well beyond his years"
BBC's Marc Woods on Sam Hynd

Johnson said: "I've been fine all week, but it's been hard watching from the stands.

"This morning everybody let me get on with it, then this afternoon they were like 'Do it for your mum' and I was crying. I think she'll be happy."

It was a good day for Britain in the pool, with Heather Frederiksen winning silver in the 400m freestyle, while Gareth Duke and Matt Whorwood collected silver and bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

Nottingham student Hynd said: "It's a dream come true. It is a great feeling and such a buzz."

Swimming in the S8 category, Hynd has a uromuscular myopathy, which restricts the use of his hands and legs in the water.

And he has clearly benefitted from training alongside double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington. Liz Johnson

"I train with Becky on a daily basis," added Hynd. "She sent me a little message saying good luck.

"It all comes down to the belief - if you believe in what you can do then you get the right attitude."

Frederiksen, 22 from Lancashire, gold medallist in the S8 100m backstroke on Wednesday, had to settle with silver in the S8 400m freestyle, clocking 4:54.49s behind American Jessica Long.

South African du Toit cruised home in the 400m freestyle (S9), 16 seconds ahead of Canada's Stephanie Dixon in a new world record of 4:23.81. GB teenager Louise Watkin was fifth.

Britain would have hoped for a one-two in the 100m breaststroke SB6, but Duke and Whorwood finished behind Russia's Alexey Fomenkov.

Dave Ellis and Dervis Konuralp were sixth and seventh in the men's 200m individual medley final. Ukraine's Oleksii Fedyna won gold in a world record time of 2:13.84s.

In the women's 100m breaststroke SB5 final, Britain's Nyree Lewis was narrowly edged out of the medals, with Germany's Kirsten Bruhn winning by almost 16 seconds.

Spain's Enhamed Enhamed claimed his third gold of the Games, powering to victory in the 100m freestyle S11 ahead of China's Bozun Yang.




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Paralympics day six photos (12 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
Roberts claims 10th swimming gold (11 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
Paralympic gold 'for dead mother' (12 Sep 08 |  South east )
More cycling success for Britain (12 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
Frederiksen leads swimming charge (10 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
Woods battles to bronze in re-run (12 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
A-Z of Paralympic classification (28 Aug 08 |  Paralympics )
Paralympics on the BBC (25 Aug 08 |  Paralympics )
GB Paralympic team for Beijing (24 Jul 08 |  Paralympics )

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Disability Sport Contents:  Paralympics 2008

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