Elliott wins first NSWIS gold of Rio Paralympics

Golden girl Maddison Elliott has won the first gold medal of the Rio Paralympics for NSWIS athletes with a stunning day 4 victory over teammate Lakeisha Patterson in the women’s S8 100m freestyle final.

Elliott set a new Paralympic record of 1:04.73 to hit the wall ahead of Patterson, the 400m champion on day 1, who grabbed the silver medal with a swim of 1:05.08.

“I’m actually pretty happy to get my main event out of the way and for it to be a gold, I am super stoked,” said Elliott.

“I was a bit worried because we had a Brazilian swimmer in the race so the crowd was really bizarre, but I was just like I have to learn to focus on my own event and my race plan, and that’s what I did, and managed to get the Paralympic record.”

Born with cerebral palsy which affects the right side of her body, Elliott initially started swimming to support her physiotherapy but has now won an incredible haul of five Paralympic medals, including two golds, all before she turns 18 in November.

The Bishop Tyrrel Anglican College schoolgirl became Australia’s youngest ever Paralympic Games gold medallist in London four years ago when she was part of the successful 4x100m freestyle relay team.

Several other NSWIS athletes swam in finals on day 4 with Timothy Hodge fifth in the men’s S9 200m IM, Prue Watt sixth in the women’s 100m Breaststroke SB13 and Sean Russo seventh in the corresponding men’s SB13 100m Breaststroke.

Earlier on day 4 Jenna Jones just missed the final of the 100m Breaststroke SB13, finishing tenth.

NSWIS swimmers in the pool on day 5 include Paige Leonhardt, Ellie Cole, Tim Hodge, Kate Wilson, Tiffany Thomas Kane and Matt Levy.