In the Spotlight: Eleanor Simmonds
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Eleanor Simmonds
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Gagandeep Bedi 25 July 2012
As the countdown to London 2012 continues, UK Sport’s In the Spotlight will focus on a different Olympic or Paralympic athlete each week. This week, disability swimmer, Eleanor Simmonds.
| Name | Eleanor Simmonds |
| Lives | Walsall, Birmingham |
| Sport | Disability swimming |
| National governing body | British Swimming |
| National Lottery funded since | 2011 |
| Funding Award for British Swimming (2009-13) |
£10,468,750 |
Career Highlights
2008 Gold, 100m Freestyle, Beijing 2008
2008 Gold, 400m Freestyle, Beijing 2008
2009 Gold, 50m Freestyle (S6), IPC European Championships
2009 Gold, 100m Freestyle (S6), IPC European Championships
2009 Gold, 400m Freestyle (S6), IPC European Championships
2009 Gold, 200m Individual Medley (S6), IPC European Championships
2009 Gold, 4x100m Freestyle Relay (S6), IPC European Championships
2011 Gold, 400m Freestyle (S6), IPC European Championships
2011 Gold, 200m Individual Medley (SM6), IPC European Championships
2010 Gold, 50m Freestyle (S6), IPC World Championships
2010 Gold, 100m Freestyle (S6), IPC World Championships
2010 Gold, 400m Freestyle (S6), IPC World Championships
2010 Gold, 200m Individual Medley (S6), IPC World Championships
2012 Gold, 400m Freestyle, British Championships
2012 Gold, 200m Individual Medley, British Championships
Eleanor started swimming aged five with her local club, making her international debut at the 2006 International Paralympic Committee World championships in South Africa.
Eleanor was Britain’s youngest competitor at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, just short of her 14th birthday, Eleanor brought home two gold medals in the 100 and 400 metre freestyle events, becoming the youngest and one of the most successful Paralympians in the process. She was awarded the BBC Young Sports Personality Award later in 2008 and was made an MBE in the New Years Honours list in 2009, becoming the youngest person ever to receive an MBE.
Simmonds has gone from strength to strength, winning numerous gold and silver medals in world and European competitions as well as breaking the world record at the 2012 British Championships in London’s Aquatics Centre in the 200m Individual Medley.
Interact with Eleanor Simmonds
Twitter: @EllieSimmonds1
In the News
‘British Paralympian swimmer, Eleanor Simmonds, enjoys a training session at Ethos’
‘Eleanor Simmonds claims two swimming gold medals at 2008 Beijing Paralympics’
