Warrington off to a flying start in the pool after lifetime best boosted hopes of Paralympic medal

By Tom Harle in Paris

Maidstone swimmer Calli-Ann Warrington got a big boost from an unexpected personal best as she bids for Paralympic gold.

The 24-year-old’s main event is the 100m butterfly, but she got her Games campaign up and running with a brilliant personal best in the heats of the 100m freestyle.

Warrington ripped a 1:01.13 to take half a second off her previous lifetime best and improved it again in the final to finish fourth, just eight-hundredths short of the podium.

“I'm a little bit upset that I didn't medal but I can't be mad at that swim at all,” said Warrington, who is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – which has been vital on their pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.

“I came here to do the 100 free just as a bonus event, so I was happy even to make it to the final, and then to be so close to medalling as well.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself between the heats and the finals, but I managed to calm myself down, and I gave everything I could. My body couldn't give any more.”

Warrington was in bronze medal position for the majority of the race but was overhauled in the final few metres by Italy’s Alessia Scortechini.

A popular gold went to Emeline Pierre of France with Canada’s Aurelie Rivard taking silver.

“I looked over and I saw how close we all were, and I just tried to fight as much as I could to get myself to that end,” said Warrington.

“I got to 75 metres and completely lost the majority of my leg kick on my right side, which is my fully functioning side. To lose that, it was not ideal at all. My body couldn't give any more.”

Tuesday brings Warrington’s date with 100m butterfly destiny as she hopes to add a Paralympic gold to her European title in the event.

“That gives me a lot of confidence for the fly,” said Warrington. “I’m 24 now, I’m not like youngsters being able to knock off seconds but to knock off a little bit from my time is really good. I’m really fighting for that medal.”

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