Para swimming poster girl Ellie Simmonds says it’s nights like winning world bronze in London that helped her fall back in love with her sport.
A staggering 13 years on from her World Championship debut, the 24-year-old roared onto the S6 400m freestyle podium in a race that saw China’s Yuyan Jiang break the world record.
After taking time away from the pool after Rio 2016, the five-time Paralympic champion says she’s going nowhere with the Tokyo 2020 Games less than a year away.
"I was in a really negative frame of mind in 2016, but I'm in a much better place now,” said the Walsall-born star.
“I'm still going strong. Sometimes as athletes we just think about the moment, the medal, or the time, but there's a bigger picture.
"I'm still here. It's great that the world's moving forward, world records going down – that’s sport and that’s the Paralympics these days.
“My main aim is next year. After this event, it’s all steam ahead to Tokyo.”
Simmonds won her 33rd international medal at the pool she trains in day in, day out and where she became a household name at the London 2012 Paralympics.
She was the third-fastest qualifier, behind Ukrainian world record holder Yelyzaveta Mereshko and Jiang, and touched in 5:21.78 to finish in the same position in the final.
Simmonds was over the moon to reach the rostrum in front of a raucous home crowd, but felt she is yet to find top speed.
“I would have liked a bit of a faster time, but I'm so happy with the bronze medal,” she said.
"It's nice to have my coach, my family, my friend. I really enjoyed the race. I wish I could be a bit more happy with myself.
"It was just the first day, that pressure of being at home. They held us on the block for ages, which is probably nothing big, but that little extra percentage.
"It's amazing to be in the pool - I know all the lifeguards! It’s a special place.”
