Simmonds (pictured top, right, alongside Arlen), defending her Beijing 2008 title, beat Arlen by a second in a world-record time of 5min 19.17sec, but for most of the race she had been valiantly trying to stay in touch.

Arlen had originally been controversially declared ineligible for the Games because she was not considered disabled enough before her appeal against the ruling was upheld.

But the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) only allowed her to continue after observing her during this morning's heats. 

The row must have been draining on both competitors but they rose magnficently to the occasion. 

The duo were well in front of the rest of the field for three quarters of the race, and in the penultimate 50m Simmonds made her move, taking the lead and eventually smashing the world record by over five seconds.

Simmonds had earlier set a new Paralympic and European record of 5:24.64 as she cruised through her heat.

It was also a personal best time, although it was 0.18 outside Arlen's existing world benchmark.

Arlen set her world record in June this year, taking it away from Simmonds, one of Britain's stars of the Beijing Games four years ago when she won two gold medals as a 13-year-old.

"I just went out there and gave it my all," Simmonds said afterwards.

"I'm exhausted, I can not believe I did that.

"I saw her [Arlen] in the last 100 metres and I had to put my head down and do it for everyone who has supported me."

Simmonds added: "My coach said it was going to be won with a 5:19 [time].

"I did not believe him but I've just beaten my personal best by six seconds."


Arlen commented: "I was going for a personal best and to keep up with Ellie.

"I managed to do that and I could not have asked for a better outcome.

"It was a great race and she just came out on top.

"I am just pleased to get a silver medal."

Other highlights of the day included New Zealand's Sophie Pascoe (pictured above), already with a gold and silver to her name during these Games, breaking her own world record – set in the heats – when winning the 100m butterfly S10 final in 1:04.43.

She had lowered the exisiting benchmark to 1:04.97 during the qualifying rounds.

Darragh McDonald of Ireland took gold in the men's S6 400m freestyle, beating his personal best by seven seconds to win in a time of 4:55.56.

The 18-year-old from Gorey had won the silver medal in Beijing in 2008 only two years after taking up the sport. 

Brazil's André Brasil broke a Paralympic record in the men's 100m butterfly S10 in a time of 53.65sec, claiming his second gold of the Games.

China's Yang Bozun set a world record in qualifying for the men's 50m freestyle S11 with a time of 25.33 before lowering that further to 25.27 in the final to claim gold.

In qualifying for the women's 50m freestyle S11, Italy's Cecilia Camellini broke the world record in 31.15, beating compatriot Maria Panigati's previous best time, before breaking the record yet again in a time of 30.94 to win gold.


Daniel Dias, Brazil's multiple Paralympic champion who dominated in the pool at last year's Parapan American Games, won the men's 200m freestyle S5 in a Paralympic record time of 2:27.83.

Russia's Olesya Vladykina broke another world record in the women's 100m breastroke SB8 class, in a time of 1:17.17.

Andriy Kalyna of the Ukraine won the men's version of the event, and Louise Sarah Rung from Norway took the gold in the women's 200m freestyle S5.

Charles Bouwer of South Africa won the men's freestyle 50m S13, and Kate Becherer of the United States claimed the women's title in the same discipline.

Australian world champion Blake Cochrane (pictured above) set a world record in the men's 100m breaststroke S7 in 1:18.77, with the women's event being won by American Jessica Long who claimed her ninth Paralympic gold and her second of these Games.

Yang Yang from China set a Paralympic record on the way to a gold medal in the men's 200m freestyle S2 in 4:36.18.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
August 2012: After swimming protests IPC member admits classification is "inherently unfair"
August 2012: US swimming star Weggemann so shocked by reclassification she has "lost faith" in Paralympic system
August 2012: New ruling says USA's Arlen will swim against Britain's Simmonds
August 2012: US Paralympic swimming stars reclassified ahead of competition