Paralympics gold and world record for Sunbury’s Ashleigh McConnell
UPDATE: Sunbury’s own Ashleigh McConnell is back home after winning a Paralympics swimming gold medal in world record time.
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SUNBURY’S Ashleigh McConnell is still revelling in a golden afterglow after returning home a winner from the Rio Paralympics.
The 20-year-old anchored the women’s 4x100m (34 points) relay team to win gold in a world-record time of 4.16.65 minutes.
The team of Ellie Cole, Lakeisha Patterson, Maddison Elliott and McConnell retained the crown won by Australia in London in 2012.
McCONNELL PREPARES FOR RIO GAMES
SUNBURY COLLEGE SWIM SENSATION
It was a thrill also for McConnell’s parents, Glenn and Linda, who were in Rio to watch their daughter race.
Mr McConnell said being at the Paralympics was “really exciting”.
He described his daughter’s winning relay swim as amazing.
“She had the world-record-holder chasing her home, but swam 1.03.62 herself, which was her best swim by a second-and-a-half,” he said. “We had a mammoth trip home, but it was all worth it to share the experience with her.”
Mr McConnell said there was an incredible atmosphere at the swimming finals.
Getting McConnell a driver’s licence was a priority after a long training regimen designed at getting her peaking at the Paralympics.
“She has been swimming competitively since she was nine and we’ve been doing the 4am start for the 5am training for six years,” Mr McConnell said.
The former Sunbury College student competed in three individual events in the S9 class at the Paralympics.
She came equal sixth in the 100m freestyle in a personal best time and seventh in the 50m freestyle. McConnell also won her heat in the 400m freestyle.
The gold medal caps four years of hard work and heartbreak for McConnell, who missed out on selection for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the London Paralympics.
McConnell, who was born without a left forearm or hand, trains six days a week at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
She is already a Leader senior sports star nominee after being selected for the Paralympics. CLICK HERE to nominate a sport star.
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