Rodgers secures second spot at London 2012 Paralympics

By David Gold

March 7 - Susie Rodgers (pictured) has secured her second qualifying time for the London 2012 Paralympic Games by breaking a European S7 record in the women's 50 metres butterfly at the British Gas Swimming Championships at the Aquatics Centre in London.

The European champion finished in a time of 36.64sec to take the gold ahead of Liz Johnson, who took silver in 45.36, and afterwards said: "It was a good swim and good to end the week with that one – another qualifying time which was what I came here to do.

"I got the four times here and was so close to getting it in the 50m free as well."

The 28-year-old from Stockton-on-Tees won five gold medals and a silver on her international debut at last year's European Championships.

She is expected to be one of the main threats to American sensation Mallory Weggemann at London 2012.

"I'm going to go to the second trials in Sheffield and race hard again and see where I'm at in a month's time," said Rogers.

"I'd love to make that qualifying time as well.

"Obviously, that's my aim to get the full sweep of them but I'm pretty pleased with how it's gone this week."

Meanwhile, Eleni Papadopoulos, a 19-year-old from Gateshead who has limited mobility in her arm after breaking it when she was six-years-old, took gold in the 100m butterfly in 1:13.07.

She was ahead of Stephanie Millward, with both taking their places at the Paralympics, and Gemma Almond having to settle for bronze.

Rafael Bagott, a 14-year-old from Newcastle, won the 100m men's butterfly gold in a time of 1:01.40, while James Clegg took silver - breaking the 12-year-old S12 record - and James Hollis claimed bronze.

Sascha Kindred_08-03-12