However, Ukrainian Dmytro Vynohradets can also lay legitimate claim to being recognised as the outstanding performer in Montreal as he completed an incredible week by claiming his seventh World Championship win in the men's S3 50m butterfly in a world record of 55.78 to boot.

Vynohradets was the stand-out performer on a Ukrainian team that cemented its place as the dominant force at these Championships with further gold medals on the last day for Yevheniy Bohodayko in the men's SM7 200m individual medley - his fourth gold of the week - while 15 year-old Viktoriia Savtsova bagged her second win in the women's S5 50m freestyle.

Second-placed Russia completed its gold medal tally with victory and a world record for Denis Tarasov in the men's S8 50m freestyle.

Britain also ended the Championships with three more gold medals which saw them improve on their overall fifth place finish at London 2012 by two spots.

Defending women's S6 100m freestyle champion Ellie Simmonds retained her crown in emphatic style by touching home well ahead of Italian Emanuela Romano and German Tanja Groepper, to bag her third gold of the Championships.

"I was quite nervous going into that final," said Simmonds, who improved on her second place finish in this event at London 2012.

"I thought it was going to be tough but I was excited and thankfully I managed to touch first.

"I've had a great Championships and it feels great to have won my third gold here."

New Zealand's Mary Fisher (centre) helped her country to its best ever finish in Montreal with her fifth gold medal in the SM11 200m individual medley

Steph Millward and Amy Marren battled it out in a close women's S9 100m backstroke final but European record holder Millward just held on to claim the win in a time of 1min 10:56sec with 15-year-old M taking silver ahead of American Elizabeth Smith.

Millward was in action again later on in the evening as she helped the women's 4x100m medley relay 34 points quartet to gold and a world record with victory over Russia and China in a time of 4:46.21.

"It's been a crazy night and absolutely perfect - like a dream come true," said 31-year-old Millward.

"The 100m backstroke is something I've always wanted to win.

"I've come second at it at the Worlds and second at the Paralympics and its quite depressing always coming second and now I've got a gold to show off.

"Then to be part of that medley team which took six seconds off the world record, you can't get better than that.

"It was fantastic."

It was also a fantastic debut in the World Championships for youngster Marren who finished the week with gold medals in the SM9 200m individual medley, 4x100m freestyle relay 34 points and the S9 100m butterfly.

"These Championships have been amazing and I don't really want to go home to be honest," said Marren.

"I've really enjoyed the past two weeks and had a lot of fun.

"Winning relay gold with these girls on the last night in a world record is the perfect way to finish."

New Zealand had its best ever showing at an IPC Swimming Championships winning a total of 12 gold medals to place fourth in the overall standings, and this was down to stars Mary Fisher and Sophie Pascoe in the main.

Paralympic champion Fisher won her fifth gold medal in Montreal with victory in the SM11 200m individual medley, while Pascoe improved on her silver medal in London in the S10 50m freestyle by becoming the first women to break the 28 second barrier on her way to success in a time of 27.78, bringing her record in these Championships to five gold medals from five events.

"I've just had an incredible Championships," said Pascoe.

"It's been a hard year coming from London but doing a personal best in every single final - I couldn't have asked for more."

Nikita Howarth completed a memorable week for the New Zealanders by claiming her first world crown in the women's SM7 200m individual medley finishing ahead of home favourite Brianna Nelson in a time of 3:02.70.

Belarusian Ihar Boki won his second gold medal of the Championships in the S13 100m freestyle

Australia also secured three of the best on the last day of action as another 15-year-old, Maddison Elliot emphasised her potential by bagging her second gold in successive nights by following up her S8 100m freestyle win with victory in the 50m freestyle event.

Multi-Paralympic champion Matthew Cowdrey claimed yet another international title in the men's S9 100m backstroke although he was pushed all the way in a close race by James Crisp of Britain who came in second.

Matthew Levy completed the Australian's gold medal haul by being awarded victory in the men's SM7 200m individual medley following the disqualification of initial winner Yevheniy Bohodayko of the Ukraine.

Valerie Grand'Maison ensured that the vociferous support inside the Parc Jean Drapeau went home happy as she secured her third gold of the Championships in the women's S13 100m freestyle.

"There is a life outside of swimming but you have to make set-backs to get this far," said an emotional Grand'Maison afterwards.

"You have to become strong mentally and do it with your heart.

"Tonight I won this gold for my people and for myself and I won it with my heart.

"I've heard the crowd on the last 50m where it hurt very much so this helped me to give everything on the last 50m.

"It's great to have a Championships in your home country."

Karolina Pelendritou of Cyprus bagged her country's only gold of the Championships in the SB12 100m breaststroke setting a world record in the process

Dutchman Marc Evers became world champion in the men's SM14 200m individual medley, while Colombia's Nelson Crispin bagged his first gold in the men's S6 100m freestyle.

Ihar Boki of Belarus collected another gold and another world record in the men's S13 100m freestyle, clocking a time of 51.05, and he must have drawn inspiration from teammate Uladzimir Izotau who also set a world record on his way to victory in the men's SB12 100m breaststroke earlier, with a time of 1:06:03.

Spain's Israel Oliver finished in the gold medal position in the men's SM11 200m individual medley, while Mexican Patricia Valle emerged victorious in the women's S3 50m butterfly.

In the men's 4x100m relay 34 points, China just edged out Russia and the Ukraine who finished second and third respectively, in a thrilling race.

Cyprus became the 39th different country to medal in Montreal as Karolina Pelendritou claimed a memorable win in the women's SB12 100m breaststroke setting a world record of 1:16.10 in the process.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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