Podiums for Cole & Hodge on night two of World Para Swimming Championships

The Aussie Dolphins delivered a plethora of passionate performances on the second night of the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, collecting four medals at the London Aquatics Centre on Tuesday evening.

After placing fourth in the Women’s 100m Freestyle S9 on night one, Ellie Cole (NSWIS) secured her spot on the podium and her first medal of the meet in one of her favourite events – the Women’s 100m Backstroke S9. Hitting the wall in 1:10.42, the Paralympian – who won four gold medals at this very venue in 2012 – touched ahead of Elizabeth Smith (1:12.64) from the USA. New Zealand’s Sophie Pascoe received the gold in a new championship record time of 1:07.49.

A jubilant Cole said a silver medal was a wonderful result and as good as gold to her.

“I just missed out on the podium yesterday, so to redeem myself is really wonderful. I actually saw the cute little bears when you medal so I’m really excited to get one of those for my niece,” she said moments after her achievement.

“It was a very different approach to last night, I was so nervous last night I was shaking on the blocks, so tonight was just all about going out there and having fun, which is what I usually race like, so I felt like my old self. Every time I get out the water and have fun like that, I always know why I love to swim – and that’s exactly why.”

A stirring swim from Timothy Hodge (NSWIS) in the Men’s 100m Backstroke S9 saw him claim bronze in a personal best time of 1:02.17. In an extremely tight finish, the 18-year-old willed himself to the line to take the final podium position by one one hundredth of a second ahead of his Russian counterpart, Bogdan Mozgovoi (1:02.18). Simone Barlaam from Italy took the gold in a world record time of 1:01.22, while Ugo Didier from France captured silver in 1:01.83. Fellow Dolphin Brenden Hall finished seventh overall in 1:05.78.

Having placed sixth in the same event at his first World Para Championships back in 2015, Hodge said feeling the burn at the back end of the race was all worth it.

“I feel really really pumped, it was a great swim, I’m really happy with it,” he exclaimed post-race.

“It was a close finish – as close as anything – but I’m pretty sure my coach would be happy with it as well. That last 15 was a killer, I don’t think I’ve had a last 15 like it, it was hard, but I know I gave it my all.

“I went in with a goal to just do a PB so to come out with a medal as well is just something extra – I’m really happy, it’s made my day,” he added.

In the Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10, Jasmine Greenwood (NSWIS) and Keira Stephens both performed exceptionally well, recording personal best times to place fourth and sixth respectively. Greenwood battled for bronze for the majority of the race and ended up hitting the wall in 2:30.76, while Stephens smashed her PB by nearly six seconds, posting 2:39.05.

Australia had three representatives in the Women’s 100m Backstroke S14, with Taylor Corry (NSWIS), Jamie-Lee Getson and Madeleine McTernan all making the final showdown – displaying the Dolphins’ depth in the field. McTernan finished fifth in 1:11.37 while Getson touched just behind for sixth in 1:11.81, and Corry placed eighth in 1:12.57.

Experienced campaigner, Matt Levy, represented the green and gold with pride, fighting hard in the Men’s 400m Freestyle S7. Posting a time of 4:48.82, Levy broke the current Oceania Record which had been held by New Zealand’s Dean Booth since 2000, and placed sixth overall.

In the final event of the night, the Mixed 4x50m Medley Relay 20 points, Australia’s team of Grant Patterson, Ahmed Kelly, Jasmine Greenwood and Rachael Watson came eighth in 3:02.09.

After the second night of the competition, Australia sits 17^th on the medal table, with four silver and three bronze.

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