By Gary Anderson

August 17 - Australia's Maddison Elliott caused an upset when she won the 100 metres freestyle to beat America's Jessica Long at the IPC World Swimming Championships in MontrealAustralia's Maddison Elliott was one of a number of competitors to claim unexpected victories on day six of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Swimming Championships at the Parc Jean Drapeau in Montreal, as she won gold in the women's S8 100 metres freestyle ahead of hot favourite Jessica Long of the United States.

Twelve-time Paralympic champion Long, who had broken her own world record in the S8 100m butterfly with a time of 1min 09.79sec last night, was expected to add freestyle gold to her collection but a fantastic performance from 14-year-old Elliott saw her claim the win.

She led from the start and although Long made a late surge in the final 25m, Elliott held on to finish just 0.43 in front to claim her first world crown, in an Oceania record of 1:05.85.

"It's actually really good to become a world champion for the first time," said Elliott.

"I'm happy with the time; it's a new personal best.

"All I wanted to do is a PB (personal best) and try to keep up with Jessica and I knew at the 50m mark I had a chance to stay in front of her.

"So all I did was just try really hard and I'm happy."

Afterwards, the American silver medallist paid tribute to the youngster who is sure to become one of her biggest rivals over the coming years.

"It was a good race but I had a really bad start," said Long.

"I thought I was disqualified.

"So that kind of screwed me up in my head.

"Maddison is an amazing swimmer and it was great racing her.

"She's adorable, so sweet and she pushes me always to train even harder."

Maddison Elliot (centre) caused an upset in the S8 100 metres freestyle by defeating American Jessica Long (left)Maddison Elliot (centre) caused an upset in the S8 100 metres freestyle by defeating American Jessica Long (left)

China's Zheng Tao also caused a ripple of surprise in the men's S6 50m freestyle as he overcame teammate and reigning Paralympic and world champion Qing Xu by just 0.54 in another tight finish with Colombia's Nelson Crispin setting an America's record of 32.16 to win bronze.

Tao, who won gold in the S6 100m backstroke at London 2012, completed a memorable evening by going on to add the world crown in the same event finishing ahead of teammate Jia Hongguang and Ukrainian Iaraslov Semenenko.

Brazilian Andre Brasil was expected to retain his S10 100m backstroke title from Eindhoven four years ago but American Paralympic champion Justin Zook had other ideas as he touched home ahead of Brasil to take gold in a time of 1:00.09 with Estonia's Kardo Ploomipuu taking third spot in a European record of 1:00.85.

Hungary's Paralympic and world champion Tamas Sors was another swimmer who became a victim of the night of upsets as he lost his S9 100m butterfly title to Federico Morlacchio of Italy who finished in a time of 59.63, with Australia's Matt Cowdrey completing the podium positions.

China's Zheng Tao (centre) caused an upset in the mens S6 50m freestyle by beating teammate Qing Xu (left)China's Zheng Tao (centre) caused an upset in the mens S6 50m freestyle by beating teammate Qing Xu (left)

Russia's Denis Tarasov and Paralympic champion and world record holder Yinan Wang battled it out in a thrilling men's S8 100m freestyle final which saw the Russian just squeeze home to take gold and break the Chinese man's world record in the process by clocking a time of 56.48.

It was business as usual however, for Brazilian Daniel Dias as the multi-Paralympic and world champion claimed yet another major Championship title in the men's S5 100m freestyle ahead of American Roy Perkins and Spaniard Sebastian Rodriguez, who finished second and third respectively.

It was a similar story in the women's S10 100m backstroke as 10-time Paralympic champion Sophie Pascoe of New Zealand claimed her fourth gold medal of the Championships cruising to victory ahead of Russian Nina Ryabova and Katherine Downie of Australia, in an Oceania record of 1:05.95.

Pascoe will be looking to complete a clean sweep of wins as she goes in the S10 50m freestyle in tomorrow's final session.

Her compatriot, double Paralympic champion Cameron Leslie had earlier secured the World Championship crown in the men's SM4 150m individual medley.

Sophie Pascoe of New Zealand claimed her fourth gold in Montreal in the womens S10 100 metres backstrokeSophie Pascoe of New Zealand claimed her fourth gold in Montreal in the womens S10 100 metres backstroke
































Two athletes who have already secured five gold medals each in Montreal are the Ukrainians Dmytro Vynohradets and Olga Sviderska.

Vynohradets' fifth gold came in the men's SM3 150m individual medley, while Sviderska repeated the feat in the women's event.

Yevheniy Bohodayko gave the Ukrainian team their third gold in a row in the men's S7 50m butterfly beating China's Paralympic Champion Shiyun Pan, while teammate Oksana Khrul retained her world title in the women's S6 50m butterfly S6.

And there was further Ukrainian success in the women's S5 100m freestyle as Natalia Prologaieva and Viktoriia Savtsova duelled for gold with Prologaieva eventually touching home just 0:67 ahead of her compatriot with Eindhoven 2010 silver medallist Sarah Louise Rung in third place.

Russia's Anna Krivshina set a world record in the final of the women's S13 100m backstroke with a time of 1:07.29, while a new world champion was crowned in the women's SM4 150m individual medley as teammate Irina Kolmogorova collected gold in 3:12.10 ahead of the Netherland's Lisette Teunissen.

Sweden's Maija Reichard retained her title in the women's SB11 100m breaststroke breaking her own world record in the process with a time of 1:27.37 while in the men's event Kimura Keiichi, of Japan, bettered his second place finishes in Eindhoven and last year in London by claiming gold ahead of the Ukraine's Oleksandr Mashchenko and Spain's Oliver Israel.

Amy Marren set a British record on her way to victory in the S9 100 metres butterfly in MontrealAmy Marren set a British record on her way to victory in the S9 100 metres butterfly in Montreal

There was double gold success for Britain on the night as first, Hannah Russell claimed the World Championship title with victory in the S12 100m backstroke, before 15-year-old Amy Marren bagged her third gold in Montreal in the S9 100m butterfly to add to her earlier wins in the 200m individual medley and the freestyle relay.

"I'm absolutely delighted," said 17-year-old Russell.

"It was a fantastic swim.

"I just wanted to go out there and try my absolute best.

"To come away as world champion and gold medallist is a dream come true.

"I knew coming into the race that I had to nail my turn and nail my start and I managed to do that and stay in front."

Marren, from Essex, broke Steph Millward's British record of 1:10.61 on her way to success, clocking a time of 1:10:07.

"I didn't know it was a British record - I wasn't expecting that at all," she said.

"I'm delighted but there is still a lot to work on for me in the event and I will be trying my hardest to do that."

The most popular win of the night was undoubtedly that of home favourite Brianna Nelson, who bagged gold in the women's S7 50m butterfly, finishing ahead of Briton Susannah Rodgers and Nikita Howarth of New Zealand.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related Stories
August 2013: Records not staying intact for Long at IPC Swimming World Championships
August 2013: Australia retain men's relay title at IPC World Swimming Championships as Britain surge up medal table
August 2013: Ukrainian swimmers dominate on day three in Montreal with six gold medals
August 2013: Top swimmers call for doping-free sport at IPC World Championships
August 2013: Banned swimmer Arlen accuses IPC of "humiliating and targeting her" after ban