Maisie Summers-Newton will aim to beat idol Ellie Simmonds at Tokyo 2020
MAISIE SUMMERS-NEWTON was inspired to swim by Ellie Simmonds’ London 2012 victories — now she is beating her idol.
The Northampton star was ten and watching the TV transfixed as Simmonds, then 17, won two Paralympic golds in home waters.
It was the catalyst she needed to train hard in the pool and target the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
She came of age when she won three gold medals at the European Championships in Dublin last August.
She comfortably beat Simmonds in the SB6 100 metres breaststroke and SM6 200m individual medley — and found it a strange experience.
Summers-Newton, who has the condition Achondroplasia (dwarfism), said: “I was a bit shocked to beat Ellie. She has been such an idol to me.
“I was happy and shocked. We both had a hug and said well done to each other.
“Ellie just inspires me. We relate in so many ways. She gives me so much advice.
“She’s a lovely person. We are really good friends.
“I would have swum whatever but I wouldn’t have been as determined as I am without Ellie.
“I saw what she has done for the country and how she has made everyone proud. That was something I could relate to.
“From Beijing to London and Rio, she trained all that time, and made people within the swimming community feel proud.”
Summers-Newton, who turned 17 on Friday, will go up against Simmonds at the World Para Swimming Championships in London in September.
Maisie Summers-Newton (Para-Swimming)
Age: 16
Place of birth: Northampton
Career highlight: 3 x European gold medals (2018 SB6 100m Breaststroke, SM6 200m Individual Medley, 34pt 4x100m Medley Relay)
National Lottery funding: “I’m so grateful for the support. Without it I’d really struggle to balance my school and swimming. I can attend warm-weather training camps and competitions, which have given me the best possible build-up to the World Championships in London in September and the British Para-Swimming International meet next April (the Tokyo trials). The National Lottery also supports the ‘team behind the team’ – from my coach to my physio and everyone else in-between.”
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Then it is on to Tokyo, where she might upstage her hero once again.
