Medal return for Simmonds after year-long break

Ellie Simmonds insists she is not putting any pressure on herself despite making a successful international comeback at the World Para Swimming World Series in Indianapolis.

The 23-year-old took a year away from the pool to travel the world after successfully defending her SM6 200m individual medley title at Rio 2016.

That was the fifth Paralympic title of the swimmer’s career which first took off a decade ago when, then aged 13 and the youngest British athlete at Beijing 2008, Simmonds won three gold medals in the pool.

Retirement was considered during her 12 months away from the sport but the three-time Paralympian showed in America this week that she is back – and serious about a fourth Games at Tokyo 2020.

Swimmers competed in single-class events in America but winners are determined on World Para Swimming’s Points System.

Simmonds claimed bronze in the 400m freestyle first up behind 13-time Paralympic gold medallist Jessica Long and S13 Paralympic champion Rebecca Myers.

And she then added the same colour 24 hours later in the 200m individual medley with Long (SM8) taking gold on 964 points, Ireland’s Ellen Keane (SM9) silver on 903 points and Simmonds (SM6) bronze on 896 points.

This summer sees the 2018 World Para Swimming European Championships held in Dublin from August 13-19 as the countdown to Tokyo 2020 gathers pace.

But for now, Simmonds was more focused on gradually building back up to her best.

“For me I had a year out after Rio 2016 so it’s nice to get back on the international stage and get preparations ready for this year,” she said.

“To have a good swim in the 400m free and then in the 200m IM, it’s great preparation for future competitions.

“I just want to get back to where I was at Rio [200m IM gold and 400m freestyle bronze], but I know it is not going to happen quickly overnight.”