Tompsett leads British backstroke one-two

[Images courtresy of World Para Swimming]

Further to Tompsett and Ellard’s shared moment on the podium, silver medals from Grace Harvey (Women’s S6 100m Freestyle) and Megan Neave (Women’s S14 100m Backstroke) added to another positive night in the pool for the British team.

In the Men’s S14 100m Backstroke encounter Tompsett and Ellard matched each other stroke for stroke much of the way, turning within a tenth of each other. Out in lane two, Ellard made a push for the lead with 25m to go but as the pair came under the flags and into the wall it was Tompsett in lane five who would stop the clock first – with the gold and silver duo a comfortable second ahead of the rest of the field.

“It’s amazing really.” said Tompsett

“This being my first Europeans it’s a great honour to get this – I’ve put a lot of hard work in but I’m really glad and it was a good race.”

The following Women’s S14 100m Backstroke race delivered another close racing encounter, with Megan Neave winning a hard fought silver medal.

The Repton-based swimmer got out quickly to split dead level in the lead with eventual gold medal winner, Shabalina (NPA), at the halfway mark, and managed to hold off the closing charge of Maurin Espiau (FRA) with the podium trio separated by just 0.24 seconds at the finish.

Speaking to World Para Swimming in the media mixed zone, Neave said:

“I saw at the halfway mark I was first and I thought down that last 50m just kick my legs and just try and get as close to the time I did at our British championships. I haven’t tapered or changed anything [since racing in London]

“The British team have really helped keeping me calm as I got quite stressed when my goggles broke before my race and I had to fix them in the call room so that’s not the ideal situation but I’m happy with my swim and the silver medal overall.”

Earlier on in the Monday night racing schedule, Grace Harvey marked her first European Championships medal since a bronze at Dublin 2018 with a composed swim in the Women’s S6 100m Freestyle.

Pacing her two lengths of the pool evenly, Harvey established herself early in the race as a solid medal contender as she chased the pace of Swiss athlete, Nora Meister, and secured a silver medal ahead of her main focus events later in the meet.

“I’m delighted to win my first silver medal at a European Championships.” said Harvey

“The swim was ok, I’ve not raced the 100m Free this season as it’s not a main event for me it was more about just getting in, enjoying the race and the competition.

“In a Paralympic year it’s so nice to race [in the lead up] where it’s all about who is first to the finish, and have these opportunities where you’re in a lane and fighting to get to the wall.”

In the respective Men’s S6 100m Freestyle Bruce Dee made his international championships debut with a fourth placed finish, with Lily Rice the only other British athlete in finals action on Monday night – placing fifth in the Women’s S8 100m Backstroke as she continued her race programme in Madeira.

Live streaming is available on the Paralympic Games YouTube, with further event details and results on the World Para Swimming Website.