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Hynd’s hat-trick joy

5 May 2016

Ollie Hynd secured his third gold medal of the IPC Swimming European Championships in Madeira after winning the S8 100m Backstroke.

The British Team won six medals on the fifth day of competition with Rodgers and Mullen also picking up European gold medals.

In his final, Hynd reached the turn first just ahead of Iurii Bozhynskyi (Ukraine) and showed his strength through the final 50m to touch first.

The Paralympic Champion finished in 1:06.56 to add 100m Backstroke gold to his S8 400m Freestyle and SM8 200m Individual Medley titles.

“I’m really happy to have won three golds,” Hynd said. “Although I would have liked a little bit more tonight with the time. It was a little bit slower than what I went last week at trials so that’s a little disappointing but it’s been a long couple of weeks of racing.

“It means everything to be standing on top of the podium for the third time though. I mean there is no greater feeling than winning a medal and hearing the National anthem. I can’t wait to stand there again tonight.”

Bozhynskyi won the silver in a time of 1:09.35 while Pipo Carlomagno (Argentina) finished third in 1:10.01.

Susie Rodgers won her third consecutive S7 400m Freestyle European title after taking the victory this evening with a 13 second lead.

The Brit was in control from the opening stages of the race and continued her pace to win in a time of 5:27.16.

“It was really good to win the gold but time wise we need to definitely move that on,” Rodgers said. “We had trials last week and it’s quicker than my time there.

“I don’t mean to be negative after winning something because obviously it is great and the Butterfly was amazing but we have some work to do on all of the events really.”

Verena Schott (Germany) won the silver medal with a time of 5:40.59 while the bronze went to Arianna Talamona (Italy) in 5:41.46.

Andrew Mullen secured his third medal of the meet after finishing the S5 50m Backstroke in a time of 37.92.

He took on Daniel Dias in the Open event and the Brazilian touched in a new world record time of 34.95.

“I would have liked to have gone slightly faster in that event,” Mullen said. “Obviously it is nice to come in and race these guys and come away with European gold. But I’ve got mixed emotions right now.

“It was a solid time but I know I am capable of going quicker. I think reflecting on your performance is really important. It’s the way you evolve and get better as an athlete.”

Bronze went to Thanh Tung Vo (Vietnam) with a time of 39.60.

Lewis White won his first international individual medal with European silver in the S9 100m Freestyle in a time of 58.07. In the Open meet he was pushed into bronze medal place by Vanilton Filho (Brazil)

Ellie Robinson won her second medal of her debut competition as she touched the wall in 35.43 in the S6 50m Freestyle to win bronze.

Paralympic medallist Steph Millward won bronze in the S9 100m Freestyle after touching in a time of 1:05.26.

Harriet Lee finished in sixth place in the SM10 200m Individual Medley with a time of 2:36.33. 

Stephen Clegg swam to a new personal best time in the S13 400m Freestyle after touching in 4:19.52.