Swimmer sets sights on Tokyo Games after world title win

A swimmer from north of Brisbane has started her training to compete at Tokyo next year after success at world titles.

CABOOLTURE para swimmer Lakeisha Patterson has added a second world title gold medal to her growing collection.

Swimming up a classification, the undaunted 20 year-old won the 400m freestyle at the recent world para swimming championships in London by five seconds and in a personal best time.

“S9 is a lot stronger classification in terms of ability,” she said.

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Patterson was forced up to S9 in February due to her winning form and time in beating champion Ellie Cole at last year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

She also raced in 100m and 50m freestyle and 200m individual medley.

Patterson had a few days off after arriving home from the world titles but was back in the pool and gym last week to build into the hard work this week.

Next major goal for the swimmer is to make the team for next year’s Tokyo Paralympic Games.

“She got her gold, got her world number one and etched her place in history,” said mum Sherryn Patterson.

Training partners Brenden hall and Lakeisha Patterson at the Burpengary Regional Aquatic Leisure. PICTURE: ALAN QUINNEY

Also eyeing off a berth to Tokyo is Patterson’s training partner at the Burpengary Regional Aquatic Centre, Brenden Hall who won a silver medal in the men’s S9 400m freestyle at London.

Hall said he had gotten straight back into training as he was having a couple of weeks off for a belated honeymoon overseas.

“I will probably keep active on my break though,” he said.

Another Burpengary-based swimmer, Hayden Cotter, competed in the 5km open water swim at the FINA world titles and came a creditable ninth.

He was also a member of a relay team that came sixth.

Cotter left last week left for South Africa to compete in world surf lifesaving championships.

Coach Harley Connolly said Cotter would have a pretty good chance at winning his races.