Petrie’s Brenden Hall wins gold in 400m freestyle S9 final at Rio Paralympic Games

PETRIE’S Brenden Hall asserted his dominance of the pool in the only way he knows how - with a golden swim at the Rio Paralympic Games.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - SEPTEMBER 09: Gold medalist Brenden Hall of Australia celebrates on the podium at the medal ceremony Men's 400m Freestyle - S9 on day 2 of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on September 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Friedemann Vogel/Getty Images)

The start of the race was silent, but with 200m to go in Brenden Hall’s 400m freestyle S9 final, a group of about 30 of his friends and family started to cheer.

They knew he had the race won, and all he had to do was continue swimming his race to claim his second gold medal in the event and the first of his Rio Paralympics campaign.

Swimmers from the Lawnton Swimming Club joined family at Hall’s Petrie home with parents Shelley and Ray and older brother Marcus to watch the 23-year-old at his third Paralympic Games.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - SEPTEMBER 09: Gold medalist Brenden Hall of Australia celebrates on the podium at the medal ceremony Men's 400m Freestyle - S9 on day 2 of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on September 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Friedemann Vogel/Getty Images)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - SEPTEMBER 09: Brenden Hall of Australia competes in the Men's 400m Freestyle - S9 Final on day 2 of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on September 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Friedemann Vogel/Getty Images)

Mum Shelley said it was an incredible feeling to watch her son touch the wall in a time of 4.12.73 surrounded by many of the people who have been a part of their lives since Brenden lost his right leg due to complications from chickenpox at the age of six.

Hall, now a dual Paralympic champion, was delighted with his gold-en swim, telling channel 7Two immediately after the race that he was “pretty happy”.

“I think there’s expectation on yourself and wanting to make sure you bring home that gold, so come away with one again is so exciting.

“I think the party’s only begun tonight, but still got about five events to go, so hopefully we’ll figure again.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - SEPTEMBER 09: (L to R) Silver medalist Federico Morlacchi of Italy, Gold medalist Brenden Hall of Australia and Lewis White of Great Britain pose on the podium at the medal ceremony for the Men's 400m Freestyle - S9 on day 2 of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on September 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Friedemann Vogel/Getty Images)

Moments after watching Brenden win gold his father Ray spoke of the family’s pride.

“We’re very excited, very relieved,” he said. “He’s (Brenden) put in a lot of hard work over the last four years to back up after London and we’re so proud of him. He’s done exceptionally well.

“During the race you are always worried, so nervous all the time, you never know what the others are doing.

“Brenden looked comfortable in the heats, but you never know until he is in the water. About the 200m mark we were fairly comfortable, but it’s still exciting.

Family and friends of swimmer Brenden Hall gather at his Petrie home to cheer him on to Paralympic Games glory this morning.

“I think he will be really happy getting gold again, but he might be a fraction disappointed, because I know he was trying to equal his time for the world record.

“You could tell that when he turned round. He was happy he got gold but was hoping for a slightly better time. But it doesn’t matter - he got gold and that’s all that matters.”

Hall still has a week of racing ahead of him in Rio.

But Ray said: “Getting this first one out of the road will allow him to concentrate on the others and relax. There’s no pressure on the other.”

Originally published as Petrie’s Brenden Hall wins gold in 400m freestyle S9 final at Rio Paralympic Games