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Walker and Hynd scoop golds on day three

Matt Walker and Oliver Hynd struck gold as the British Gas GBR Disability Swimming team won 10 medals for the third successive night at the 2013 IPC World Championships in Montreal.

As well as Walker and Hynd’s victories, there were another five silvers and three bronzes as the Brits strengthened their position of second in the medal table on 30 medals from the opening three days. 

Walker is no stranger to the top spot of the IPC World Championship podium, having won his first S7 50m Freestyle title on his debut in 1998 and reclaimed the crown in Eindhoven three years ago. And the 35-year old used all his experience to defend the gold at his fifth IPC Worlds, clocking 28.50 to touch ahead of teammate Josef Craig’s PB 28.53 for silver with Jonathan Fox (29.29) finishing seventh. Walker, who won bronze in this event at London 2012 said:

“I’m delighted with that. Last year was such a tough year emotionally for me. At London I was disappointed I didn’t win but I was happy to be there on the podium at my home Games. Last year I didn’t get to hear my national anthem and today I did. Going into that race tonight, I took it steady through the first 25 and then kicked like hell to the wall and it got me there.”

While Walker’s gold was the 10th world medal of his career, 18-year old Hynd is wasting no time growing his collection as he won his second gold and third medal of his Worlds debut in the S8 400m Freestyle. Having edged a nail-biting SM8 200m Individual Medley final the previous night, Hynd was in a league of his own in the 400 Free, lowering his PB to 4:27.67 to claim gold by more than six seconds.

The teenager’s older brother and teammate Sam Hynd joined him on the podium, edging out China’s Paralympic champion Yinan Wang by just 0.02 seconds to take silver in a season’s best 4:34.52. Oliver Hynd, who won silver in this event at London 2012 last year said:

“I’m really pleased with that race. After winning silver last year I felt I had a bit of unfinished business and it hurt losing out on gold by such a small margin in London. Coming in here I wanted to put in my all to get the gold and it feels great to have done that. Today has been a tough day. Swimming six races in three days has caught up with me so I’m glad to have a bit of a rest now ahead of the relay at the end of the week.”

Andy Mullen claimed his second silver in as many races to continue his impressive World Championship debut. The 16-year old, who won S5 50m Butterfly on the opening night in Montreal, lowered his British record to 39.21 to finish second behind Brazil’s defending champion Daniel Dias (35.97).

Susie Rodgers also claimed her second silver of the meet, equaling her British record to climb the podium for women’s S7 50m Freestyle. Having finished fourth in this event at London 2012 last year, Rodgers touched in 33.84 to replicate her result from the opening day’s 400m Free.

Harriet Lee was the fifth silver medallist of the night, lowering her British record by more than half a second to climb the podium in her favourite SB9 100m Breaststroke. The 22-year old, who won gold at the 2010 Worlds and bronze at London 2012 last year, clocked 1:18.88 to out-touch Paralympic champion Khrystyna Yurchenko by 0.01 seconds in the stretch for the wall.

Having won S6 400m Freestyle gold on the opening night, Ellie Simmonds won her second medal of the meet, setting a season’s best 36.44 to land bronze in the S6 50m Freestyle.

Jessica-Jane Applegate also added bronze to her S14 200m Freestyle gold from day one in Canada. The 16-year old set a personal best 1:08.90 to clinch bronze in the S14 100m Backstroke with 14-year old British teammate Chloe Davies touching just 0.03 seconds behind her in fourth.

Paralympic silver medallist Aaron Moores was the other Brit to reach the podium on day three, claiming S14 100m Backstroke bronze with a British record. Having set a national marker of 1:03.90 in the heats, the 19-year old clocked 1:03.18 for his first world medal in the final with British teammate Jack Thomas fifith in 1:04.77.

Finally, Jack Bridge touched in 1:12.82 for finish seventh in his SB9 100m Breast final while Charlotte Henshaw set 5:46.96 for eighth in the S8 400m Freestyle.

For further information about the IPC World Championships click here