Kings Langley swimmer Tim Hodge makes a splash at his Paralympics debut in Rio
KINGS Langley super swimmer Timothy Hodge has completed his events at the Rio Paralympics with stellar results.
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KINGS Langley super swimmer Timothy Hodge has completed his events at the Rio Paralympics with stellar results.
On Saturday morning, 15-year-old Hodge swam the men’s 100m backstroke, his pet stroke. He finished third in his heat, behind fellow Aussie Brendan Hall and Polish swimmer Patryk Biskup, who came first.
There was a difference of only .99s between Hodge and Biskup, who qualified with a time of 1.05.00
Hodge, who attends Patrician Brothers’ College Blacktown, was sixth with a time of 1.05.18. Italy’s Tamas Toth nabbed the gold medal with a time of 1.04.30.
Australia’s Paralympics squad have arrived in Sydney to much applause following a successful campaign in Rio.
Australia finished fifth on the final medal tally, having collected 81 medals including 22 gold.
Hodge, who swims in category S9, swam a personal best in the 100m backstroke with a time of 1.05.62 in the Adelaide swimming trials in April this year. He competed in eight events at the Rio Paralympics; including freestyle events, butterfly, medley and relay races.
The swimmer has had an affinity with the pool since he was four, when he was diagnosed with a lower-leg deficiency that led doctors to amputate his right foot.
Hodge was named in the Australian men’s swim team at just 14 and went to Glasgow for the 2015 IPC World Swimming Championships.
He competed in seven events, with his best results being fourth in the 4x100m medley relay and sixth in the 100m backstroke.