Ellie Simmonds gets ready to go for gold again

Swimming sensation Ellie Simmonds was returning to the pool today with hopes of another medal – as her hometown became the first in the West Midlands to boast a golden postbox in her honour.

Ellie, aged 17, has won the hearts and minds of the nation with her powerful victory in the 400m freestyle.

And today, Royal Mail was celebrating Saturday's success by painting a red post box gold on Aldridge High Street.

First class stamps featuring Ellie's image are also being produced.

Experts were today predicting she could secure sponsorship and endoresements worth £500,000, even before tonight's battle for a second gold in the aquatics centre in the 200m medley.

An estimated 2.9 million tuned in on Saturday to see Ellie's victory. And her father today revealed that a thrilled but embarrassed Ellie beamed a broad smile and dunked her head in the water after winning gold to try to stop herself from crying again in public.

Four years ago in Beijing, where she won two golds, she famously stood on the podium with tears in her eyes.

Today her father Steve Simmonds, from Aldridge, described Ellie's reaction to her victory in the 400m freestyle on Saturday.

"It was the shock and surprise.

"You could see her look up at the time, a big smile come up on her face and she started to lose it," he said.

"She stuck her head in the water trying to stop herself from crying because she gets so embarrassed about it.

"It just makes me smile and laugh when I see her doing it. I think you will see a completely different girl today. She will be calm about it. She will be back in control."

Simmonds smashed the old record by five seconds to defend her Paralympic title in a time of 5 mins 19.17 seconds.

There was no celebration for Simmonds who is still in business mode. She is hoping to get four medals at London 2012 with the 50m freestyle, the 100m freestyle and the 200m individual medley still to come.

Among the thousands cheering on Ellie on Saturday were 20 members of her first-ever swim team – Boldmere Swimming Club.

Chief instructor Geoff Fowler said: "We knew Eleanor had class but the determination she showed in winning the race was something else. From the age of five, when she started swimming for us, you could tell even then that Eleanor had talent."