Will Ellard paid tribute to his grandmother as he won his first Paralympic gold. 

The 18-year-old swimmer from Beccles triumphed in the men’s S14 200m freestyle final in a world record time to claim his second medal of Paris 2024. 

It comes four years after his grandmother Sue Tipple passed away, having predicted his appearance at these Games in her final message to him. 

“The last 25, I knew I’d won it,” said Ellard.

“To have my family behind me, my nan in the back of my head, I did it for her and that’s what my celebration was, it was for her.  

“She died about four years ago; she was my biggest supporter when I was swimming. The last thing she ever said to me on WhatsApp was ‘see you in Paris, 2024’.  

“She meant a lot to me, she used to have my medals up in her house. So, I know she’s up there somewhere watching me, it hasn’t hit me quite yet how much it means to me and my family. 

Ellard is competing in his first Paralympic Games and followed up winning ParalympicsGB’s first swimming medal of the Games with gold on a Super Saturday. 

His room-mate at Paris 2024, Stephen Clegg, began the medal rush with gold and a world record in the men’s 100m backstroke. 

Ellard then followed 15 minutes later, with a silver and bronze coming for Poppy Maskill and Louise Fiddes soon after. 

The delirious domination at La Defense Arena concluded with Alice Tai claiming gold in the women’s 100m backstroke in a Paralympic record, just 37 minutes after Clegg won gold. 

Ellard added: “Stephen is my room-mate so we’re both going to be chuffed tonight, and I don’t think either of us are going to sleep any time soon because it’s our first Paralympic gold medals. 

“To do that on the same night as him, he’s my biggest role model out of the team so going back with him will be a great feeling. Being on the podium is another great feeling.  

“There’s a 15,000 strong crowd here which means quite a lot to me. I think at the end with Stephen after we both finish we’ll have a couple of days to go out and celebrate if the team let us!” 

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