Winnifrith makes history on brilliant night in the pool

Thirteen-year-old Iona Winnifrith became ParalympicsGB’s joint-youngest swimming medallist this century on another successful evening in the pool.

In addition to Winnifrith’s landmark silver in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB7, Alice Tai and Rebecca Redfern each won gold medals.

Winnifrith was competing in her second final at her debut Games, and as the youngest member of the whole GB team.

She admitted disappointment at not claiming gold even as she set a new British record and was only beaten by a world record from Mariia Pavlova.

“It was really cool, I knew I just needed to fight and power off and do what I need to do,” the youngster said.

“Of course, I really wanted that gold, but you can’t have everything. I’m 13, I’m young, but I’m super happy with that performance.

“I’ve got the fly left and then I can just relax and enjoy it and I’m really happy.”

Meanwhile, Tai believes the sky is the limit after smashing her post-amputation PB and claiming her second gold of the Paralympics.

The 25-year-old was in disbelief as she won the women’s 50m freestyle S8 in a time of 29.91, taking 0.61 seconds off her heat time which had been a personal best.

Also claiming gold in the pool was Redfern who won the women’s 100m breaststroke SB13 at the third time of asking.

Tai said: “This is more than I expected. Every swim has been a PB since my amputation, I’m getting close to my old times.

“I didn’t think I’d be getting back down to sub-30 for another year, we’ve only been working on my dive for four months.

“It’s still pretty new and I’m still figuring it out. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome, I have the full set and an extra gold, which is pretty cool, and another race to go - but I’ll have a day off tomorrow.”

Tai has taken her personal tally to four from these Games while Redfern won her third straight medal in the women’s 100m breaststroke having won silver at the past two Games.

The 24-year-old was watched on by her son Patrick, who she will take to start school next week, as she finally stood on the top of the podium.

She said: “It’s something I’ve worked really hard for. To win two silvers at my first two Paralympics and now gold, it means the world.

“It feels really surreal, I was half expecting someone to come out of lane one and beat me. A gold medal is just crazy.

“We’ve had a hell of a journey to get here. No one could have predicted me being here, to be standing on top of the podium is amazing.”

Toni Shaw missed out on a medal at her second Paralympics as she finished fourth in the women’s 200m medley SM9.

The Aberdeen swimmer produced a lightning-quick final 50m in the freestyle but it was not enough to haul down 16-year-old Anastasiya Dmytriv Dmytriv of Spain, as she finished 0.24 seconds off the podium.

Training partner Faye Rogers finished fifth in her second Paralympic final, the 400m freestyle S10, in a time of 4:41.50 while 19-year-old Scarlett Humphrey claimed sixth place in her fifth final of the Games in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB11.