Stephen Clegg delivered a fitting finale to ParalympicsGB's glorious Paris Games in the pool as he stormed to the Men's S12 100m Butterfly title - an 18th gold of the meet for Britain rubber-stamping their greatest return of golds this century.

Clegg's stunning win and a brave bronze from Alice Tai in the Women's S8 100m Butterfly - in a race that saw her attack hard from the blocks and hold on for the podium in the final strokes - ensured that Aquatics GB athletes ended these Paralympics with 32 medals to their name overall, with that incredible tally of 18 golds seeing them place second behind China in the swimming medal table.

Editorial note from SOS: China claimed 22 gold atop 54 medals in all, the largest overall medals tally, with neutral athletes claiming 41 medals, one more than Ukraine, which finished fifth on gold count and third on overall medals. The system in which the Russian cohort in the neutral tally accounted for is, of course, intrinsically linked to and subsidise by Putin's Russian state waging illegal war on the sovereign state of Ukraine, threatening wider peace and damaging the world economy in ways felt by all of us, including many millions of Russian citizens.

Meanwhile, there is a deal of comparison between Paralympic and Olympic success out there in some media reports, especially when dealing with medal counts. Truth: they don't compare and nor should they, for a wide variety of reasons, with no need to play down, or play up, the achievements of anyone. The medals table alone confirms why no comparison of prizes is possible.

• Olympics: 19 nations made the table, and 111 medals were handed out, with 14 nations claiming at least 1 gold medal
• Paralympics: 36 nations made the table, and 423 medals were handed out, with 24 nations claiming at least 1 gold medal

The nations with gold in their outcomes

As stated in previous posts, our focus for the Paralympics has been on Great Britain, Australia and Canada, three nations that provided comprehensive coverage of their paralympic swimming campaigns. We don't have the resources go cover an event with more than 400 medals being handed out in competition where editorial choice and emphasis is practically impossible. As such, we were very happy to reproduce the official coverage from Aquatics GB, Swimming Australia and Swimming Canada, which account for the bulk of leading nations in Commonwealth Games swimming, where Paralympic events take part alongside elite events. That does not happen at global or continental level, in part because it would be highly impracticable on obvious levels, in part because regulators such as World and European federations do not incorporate Paralympic events into the scope of events they govern.

Thank you to the media teams at Aquatics GB, Swimming Australia and Swimming Canada, for their exhaustive work in Paris.

end of note

Meanwhile, Britain's success in the Paralympic pool contributed hugely to what has been a sensational event across the sports for ParalympicsGB. That golden total is also Britain's best since Barcelona 1992, surpassing the 16 from Rio 2016 and Athens 2004.

No fewer than six of the team will leave Paris as multiple Paralympic champions from this Games alone, with Clegg among that number after his blockbuster finish to the meet.

Three years on from being pipped in this event, Stephen lined up for the final in lane four, alongside Raman Salei - the man who beat him in Tokyo - and brother Dmitry. Those three reached the halfway stage in a blanket turn, a tiny 0.13s separating the trio, before a superb underwater technique from Clegg put him into the lead for the home straight.

The Edinburgh University man, crowned champion in a new world record in the S12 100m Backstroke a week before, was not going to let the lead slip, powering with every stroke to keep ahead of the Salei brothers and holding firm for his second gold, and third medal overall, in Paris.

"Coming in here, that was always the ultimate target, it's always easier said than done for sure! It's not really sunk in yet. The backstroke feels like a million years ago already, it has been a long week and a very long way to get here. I started out in this 10 years ago now, and I can't really begin to fathom how rewarding this feels," he said.

"Two years ago, I remember having a conversation with a teammate saying, 'I'm not even sure if I can win', because at that point I hadn't won any title, European, world title and definitely not a Paralympic gold. There was a lot of doubt whether or not I could actually get this, and whether mentally I may have a block. But I knew I was always capable of it. It's just sensational to finally be able to call myself a two-time Paralympic champion.

"It's been sensational. I've got a big army of friends and family here today which is unbelievable, I'm so glad they got to see that and I got to share that with them, and I'm sure there will be a few drinks tonight, I imagine! I'm unbelievably grateful to everyone who has supported me and been on this journey with me.

"On deck, there is an army of people - everyone talks about the sacrifice and commitment athletes have to make to achieve these things, but no-one really considers the people in the background who are doing the exact same thing. The teammates I have who emotionally support me, it goes both ways - but my coach who has a three-year-old son and a wife, and he spends an insane amount of time with me and with my team. I don't have kids or anything like that, but I can't begin to imagine how hard it is to be away from his son for such long periods of time, but he does it for us because he believes in us. That's a lot of, not pressure, but there's a lot of awareness of what he has sacrificed for us. So I owe it to him to be the best version of myself, day in and day out, and I just want to say thank you to my coach, Mat Trodden at Edinburgh.

"The Edinburgh University team has been so supportive. Not just them, but Aquatics GB, ParalympicsGB and of course The National Lottery, who make all of this happen. It's unbelievable."

One person there to celebrate on poolside with Clegg was Alice Tai, who had just been through her medal ceremony from the Women's S8 100m Butterfly, where she secured bronze - completing a clean sweep of five medals from five events in Paris.

Alice joined Poppy Maskill as a five-time medallist at these Games by taking things out hard over the opening 50m, building an impressive lead that held well into the final 25m, only for Jessica Long of the USA and Viktoriia Ishchiulova (NPA) to move past her in the closing stages. Ultimately, though, Alice held strong to reach the wall third and finish her packed schedule with another medal, just edging out compatriot Brock Whiston, who closed the final lap at speed to place fourth.

Reflecting on her race, Tai said: "That's probably one of the silliest races I've ever swam! My coach told me to feel the first 50m, and my fly, when it's fresh, feels really nice - and the first 50m did feel really nice! Then I got to the last 20m, and I was like, 'come on, 20m left', and it just got worse and worse, to the point where I was like, 'I don't care where I come, I just want to finish!'

"So to get the bronze is great. My best time this season would've won it so there's always that bit at the back of my head thinking maybe I could've done more. But honestly, I'm tired at the end of this week. I've not done big, multi-event competitions since 2019 really, so I am still getting fit to do those again.

"Two golds, a silver and two bronzes is still an amazing Paralympic performance. I've got my seventh Paralympic medal right here, so I'm happy! It's five out of five events at this Games, I can't really complain at that, and I'm really happy with everything I've done this week."

The other GB finalist in action on Saturday night was Faye Rogers, another to have become a Paralympic champion across a mammoth 10-day programme, as she contested the Women's SM10 200m Individual Medley showpiece.

Opening up with her strongest butterfly stroke, Faye led after 50m and was second at the halfway, before ultimately coming home fifth.

In the morning, 13-year-old Iona Winnifrith just missed out on the final of the S7 100m Butterfly, finishing 10th in qualifying having become ParalympicsGB’s youngest medallist of these Games two days earlier in the SB7 100m Breaststroke.

Silver Linings For Dolphins at Curtain Closer in Paris

From Swimming Australia

Fittingly, it was unofficial team leader Rowan Crothers that closed out the Dolphins Paris 2024 Paralympic campaign with a storming finish to haul Australia to the silver medal in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay 34pt at La Defense Arena.

The silver – Australia’s second for the night – put an exclamation mark on an outstanding campaign for the Australian Paralympic swim team that will pack 27 medals into overhead luggage on the flight home – 6 gold, 8 silver and 13 bronze.

One more stroke would have seen Crothers pinch gold from the Italian team that had to set a new world record to upstage gentle giant Crothers, Alexa Leary, Callum Simpson and Chloe Osborn.

Team Australia touched in 4:01.90 behind Italy (WR 4:01.54) and USA third (4:04.70).

For Crothers (S10) it was his third medal of the meet after sharing the podium twice with fellow sprint sensation Tom Gallagher, for Osborn (S7) her first medal, while Leary (S9) and Simpson (S8) both take home two golds and a silver.

Other than three-time Paralympian Crothers, the rest of this morning's relay team were Paralympic debutants and in another take-out from the Games that bodes well for LA 2028 – every single male Aussie swimmer leaves La Defense Arena with a medal.

Crothers said: “That was so much fun … lot of strategy with mixed medley relay but it's not about being the best but trying your best.”

Australia’s other medal on the final session came courtesy of Col Pearse.

The 21-year-old finally snagged the individual medal he had trained seven years for with a silver medal in the men’s 200m individual medley SM10. And now Echuca, a Victorian town, will be most famous for the Murray River, paddle steamers … and Pearse.
 
The regional Victorian kid, who moved to Melbourne as a teenager to pursue a dream and who trained in the dam on his family's dairy farm during COVID, touched in 2:12.79 behind Italy’s Stefano Raimondi (gold, 2:10.24) with Ukraine’s Ihor Nimchenko claiming bronze (2:13.73).

Pearse had his right foot amputated following an accident with a ride-on mower at the age of two said: “I moved away from home at 14 to pursue this goal in making the Paralympics.”

"I worked my ass off to get here. So to be able to walk away with some silverware, it just means so much … to those kids with disabilities from regional areas, be patient and love who you are."

Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson, the larrikin from Cairns in Far North Queensland, signed off his Paris campaign with an 8th placing in the men’s 200m freestyle S3 and will finally have that Canadian Club he has promised himself, stopping the clock at 3:57.72.

“To make four finals … and two bronze medals probably my best Games. Four weeks has gone past … has been an amazing campaign, it’s been pretty special. Watching my roommate Lewis (Bishop)… I feel a bit like his father, and Ben Hance’s race were pretty special,” Patterson, 35, said.

“Yes you will see me in four years … definitely tomorrow night you will see some dancing.”

In other events, Jasmine Greenwood (2:34.66) and Keira Stephens (2:36.28) claimed fifth and sixth respectively in the women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10.

The Aussies were bumped up a place after touching the wall in sixth and seventh but Dutch swimmer Lisa Kruger, who was third, was disqualified.

Greenwood was second at the first turn, third at the second but was overtaken by competitors in the breaststroke leg. For Greenwood it was her fourth consecutive final, while Paralympic debutant Stephens won gold as a heat swimmer in the winning mixed medley 34pt relay team.

China's Zhang Meng won gold, followed by Hungary's Bianka Pap in silver and Tatyana Lebrun from Belgium in bronze.

Rounding out Session 20 was the presentation of Rachael Watson’s bronze medal. Watson had to wait more than 24 hours to finally get her hands on the bronze after it was caught up in a Brazilian protest overnight.

The 32 touched fourth in the final of the women's S4 50m freestyle, but was awarded the bronze as Brazil's Lidia Vieira da Cruz was disqualified on the penultimate night of finals.

The Brazilian appeared to have moved off the wall moments before the starting signal but officials let the race continue and elevated Watson after the DQ.

With the protest today dismissed, Watson was presented with her medal this morning (AEST)  -  her third consecutive Paralympic medal in this event. 
 
 
DOLPHINS 2024 Paralympics Honour Roll
 
Gold
> Men's 50m Freestyle S10 - Tom Gallagher
> Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay 34PT - Alexa Leary, Emily Beecroft, Timothy Hodge, Jesse Aungles (Heat swimmers: Keira Stephens, Callum Simpson)
> Women's 100m Freestyle S9 - Alexa Leary
> Men's 200m Individual Medley SM9 - Timothy Hodge
> Men's 100m Backstroke S14 - Ben Hance
> Men's 100m Freestyle S8 - Callum Simpson
 
 
 
Silver
> Women's 400m Freestyle S9 - Lakeisha 'Lucky' Patterson​
> Men's 100m Freestyle S10 - Rowan Crothers
> Men's 150m Individual Medley SM3 - Ahmed Kelly
> Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay S14 - Jack Ireland, Madeleine McTernan, Ruby Storm, Ben Hance
> Men's 100m Breaststroke SB14 - Jake Michel
> Men's 100m Butterfly S9 - Timothy Hodge
> Men’s 200m Individual Medley SM10 – Col Pearse
> Mixed 4x100m freestyle relay 34pt – Rowan Crothers, Alexa Leary, Callum Simpson, Chloe Osborn.
 
Bronze
> Men's 400m Freestyle S9 - Brenden Hall
> Men's 50m Freestyle S10 - Rowan Crothers
> Men's 200m Freestyle S14 - Jack Ireland
> Men's 100m Freestyle S10 - Tom Gallagher
> Men's 150m Individual Medley SM3 - Grant 'Scooter' Patterson
> Women's 100m Freestyle S3 - Rachael Watson
> Men's 100m Butterfly S10 - Alex Saffy
> Men's 200m Individual Medley SM14 - Ricky Betar
> Men's 50m Breaststroke SB2 - Grant 'Scooter' Patterson
> Men's 100m Backstroke S10 - Tom Gallagher
> Men's 100m Butterfly S9 - Lewis Bishop
> Women's 100m Butterfly S9 - Emily Beecroft
> Women's 50m Freestyle S4 - Rachael Watson

Dorris repeats as champion, Newkirk adds bronze to cap 13-medal Paralympics

From Swimming Canada

Danielle Dorris did it again.
 
The 21-year-old from Moncton, N.B., repeated as women’s 50-m butterfly S7 champion Saturday at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
 
Her time of 33.62 was comfortably ahead of American Mallory Weggemann (34.94) for the win. Italy’s Giulia Terzi took bronze (35.40), while Tess Routliffeof Caledon, Ont., was fourth (36.38.)
 
Dorris set the world record of 32.99 to win the gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games three years ago, and matched it in May at the Olympic & Paralympic Trials, Presented by Bell. Already the two-time defending world champion, she is the first Canadian Para swimmer since Walter Wu in 2000 – and first Canadian female ever – to repeat as Paralympic champion in a butterfly event.
 
“Coming in I was hoping for a world record but I cannot complain coming out with a medal in my favourite event on the last day of competition where everyone’s usually tired but I was ready to go. I’m just very happy and glad that it’s over and I can go relax,” said Dorris, who trains with Ryan Allen at the Club de Natation Bleu et Or.
 
Dorris had a long wait for her signature event after coming sixth in the 200-m individual medley S7 a week ago.
 
“Having that race on Day 3 to get me used to this environment really helped me prepare for today. After that race we really just got in the gear of switching the mindset to the 50 fly, of getting the repetition in of how fast I can dive off the blocks and my speed in this race,” she said. “I think I prepared enough and the results showed that so I’m very happy.”
 
The three-time Paralympian appreciated hearing O Canada from the top step of the podium in a packed Paris La Défense Arena.
 
“Having fans here is a big upgrade. Incredible. Expectations blown. The crowd was amazing,” she said. “Being able to see my family in the stands was very special and it was a lot of fun. I’m very happy with this medal and it’s very special. A big factor is my parents being here and being able to watch that happen.”
 
The gold was Canada’s 13^th medal (five gold, four silver, four bronze). That’s the most total medals since London 2012 most gold since Beijing 2008 (seven). Nick Bennett of Parksville, B.C., who won two gold, has been named one of Canada’s Closing Ceremony flag bearers, along with Para canoe’s Brianna Hennessy.
 
Earlier in Saturday’s final session, Saskatoon’s Shelby Newkirk captured her first career Paralympic medal, taking bronze in the women’s 100-m backstroke S6. China’s Yuyan Jiang set a world record of 1:19.44 to win, followed by American Ellie Marks (1:20.34) and Newkirk (1:22.24).
 
“I really just gave everything I could. Honestly, I was definitely very excited as soon as I realized that I got bronze. It’s been a goal for so long. It was a goal in Tokyo, I came in fourth, I came in fourth earlier this week (in the 50 freestyle), so to finally be able to break on to that podium was such an amazing feeling,” said the 28-year-old, who trains with coach Ryan Jones with the Saskatoon Lasers Swim Club. “At the same time, I was so exhausted at the end, all I could kind of do was hold on to the rope and hope that we could clear the water gracefully. Thankfully I had my coach to help me out because I was done.”
 
The two-time defending world champion also cherished the opportunity for her family to see her on the podium in person.
 
“It’s everything I’ve wanted for so long and we’ve worked towards. I was on the podium and I briefly looked over and saw my mom wiping her face and I was like, ‘Oh no don’t start’ because I’m going to start crying too. But it was just so amazing to have that moment and I’m definitely so happy,” Newkirk said. “So many people have helped me along this journey, so many people have believed in me before I could believe in myself, and so many people have really got me to this point. So while I’m the one holding this medal right now, I hope that everybody that has ever supported me understands that they’re part of this journey, part of this award.”
 
In Saturday’s final race, Canada came eighth in the 34-point mixed 4x100-m freestyle relay. The team of Aurélie Rivard, Alec Elliot, Reid Maxwell and Shelby Newkirk combined for a time of 4:13.17.

Canadian Para swimming medals at Paris 2024 (13)

Gold (5): Nicholas Bennett, men’s 100 breaststroke SB14, 1:03.98; Nicholas Bennett, men’s 200 individual medley SM14, 2:06.05; Aurélie Rivard, women’s 400 freestyle S10, 4:29.20; Sebastian Massabie, men’s 50 freestyle S4, 35.61; Danielle Dorris, women’s 50 butterfly S7, 33.62
Silver (4): Nicholas Bennett, men’s 200 freestyle S14, 1:53.61; Tess Routliffe, women’s 200 individual medley SM7, 2:57.17; Aurélie Rivard, women’s 100 freestyle S10, 1:00.82; Reid Maxwell, men’s 400 freestyle S8, 4:25.95
Bronze (4): Aurélie Rivard, women’s 50 freestyle S10, 27.62; Katie Cosgriffe, women’s 100 butterfly S10, 1:07.22; Tess Routliffe, women’s 100 breaststroke SB7, 1:31.58; Shelby Newkirk, women’s 100 backstroke S6, 1:22.24.

Team Canada Para swimming records at Paris 2024

World record: Sebastian Massabie, men’s 50 freestyle S4, 35.61
 
Paralympic records (3 including world record): Nicholas Bennett, men’s 200 individual medley SM14, 2:06.05; Sebastian Massabie, men’s 50 freestyle S4, 36.95; 
 
Americas records (4 including world record): Reid Maxwell, men’s 400 freestyle S8, 4:25.95; Reid Maxwell, men’s 400 freestyle S8, 4:23.90; Sebastian Massabie, men’s 50 freestyle S4, 36.95; 

Canadian records (9 including Americas records): Sebastian Massabie, men’s 100 freestyle S4, 1:23.80; Sebastian Massabie, men’s 100 freestyle S4, 1:22.53; Nicholas Bennett, men’s 200 freestyle S14, 1:53.61; Sebastian Massabie, men’s 200 freestyle S4, 3:02.28; Sebastian Massabie, men’s 200 freestyle S4, 2:59.15;