Cole and Thomas Kane in the medals again

NSWIS swimmers Ellie Cole (pictured) and Tiffany Thomas Kane have continued their medal winning ways in the pool at the Rio Paralympics, both grabbing bronze medals on day 5.

Cole finished behind American Michelle Konkoly (1:00.91 – word record) and Spain’s Sarai Gascon (1:02.81) in the women’s S9 100m freestyle with her time of 1.02.93.

A gold medallist in the event in London, Cole said she was happy with the swim having had two years away from the pool for two shoulder operations.

It was the 24-year-old Australian’s second medal of these Games – her third Paralympics – and the 11^th of her wonderful Paralympic swimming career.

Fifteen-year-old Tiffany Thomas-Kane then won a surprise third medal of this campaign, when after hitting the wall in fourth, was elevated to bronze due to a disqualification.

Picking up her third bronze medal of the meet, the year 9 student finished the women’s SM6 200m IM in a time of 3.09.74.

Thomas Kane has been a revelation at the Games, having begun the meet with a heartbreaking disqualification in the 100m backstroke on day 1 to bounce back with three medals and her pet event, the 100m breaststroke for which she is the reigning world champion, still to come.

Fellow NSWIS athletes contested finals with Matthew Levy finishing fifth in the men’s S7 50m butterfly in 31.32, while Paige Leonhardt finished seventh overall in her final of the women’s S10 100m butterfly.

Earlier on day 5 in heats action Tim Hodge just missed the final of the men’s 100m S9 freestyle, while Kate Wilson was 12^th in the women’s S6 200 IM.

Cole, Leonhardt, Hodge and Levy will all be back in the water on day 6, as will teenage star Maddison Elliott who won gold on day 4 in her classification’s 100m freestyle.