Ellie Simmonds proud father pays tribute to victory

Ellie Simmonds proud father today paid tribute to his inspirational daughter as he described seeing her golden victory as "unreal".

Steve Simmonds was in the Aquatics Centre to see the 17-year-old from Aldridge take gold and smash the world record in the S6 400m freestyle race.

The 61-year-old, who was joined by wife Val and around 60 other relatives and friends to watch the victory over US rival Victoria Arlen, said today: "I just hope nobody was videoing me, I got a bit excited at the end. I was expecting a tight race, but Ellie does what she does, she is at the top of her game and it was unreal.

"She looked exhausted at the end when she was getting out of the pool, you could see she was tired."

"It's a relief after all the to-ing and fro-ing, it has been unsettling for her, it must have been awful for this kid Arlen too."

Ellie faced confusion in the lead-up to the big race, when Arlen was told she could not compete as did not face enough of a handicap. However, the fellow 17-year-old was re-instated following an appeal by the International Paralympic Committee.

Steve said he has felt tense too as the days got closer to the final.

He said: "It has been fairly tense leading up to it, but I tried to stay calm, which I did right up till the last turn and then I just lost it I'm afraid."

Ellie struggled to contain her emotions after her historic swim. She said: "I just went out there and gave it my all, I'm exhausted but I can't wait to see my coach.

"It was so tough, I saw her on the last 100 and I was like: 'I am going to have to put my head down and I thought I am going to do it for everyone who has supported me'."

"I think it pushed me even harder, I just knew she was on it tonight. I knew I had to go out there and give it my all. I just put my head down and went for it."

Celebrities watching the race at home took to Twitter to congratulate her.

Ex-footballer and television presenter Gary Linekar said: "Ellie Simmonds is an absolute star! Make that a Gold star."

Fashion designer Stella McCartney said: "You smashed it!"

Actor and comedian Simon Pegg tweeted: "Ellie you rock!"

Ellie was back in action today in the 200m individual medley and her father remains confident she can come away with another medal. He said: "I am sure she will be on a high after that swim."

Ellie relocated to Swansea with her mother at the age of 11 so she could be trained by coach Billy Pye in a 50-metre pool. Her father, brother and three sisters remained in the family's home town, and she returns on weekends to visit them.