Ellie Simmonds smashes another world record

SWIMMING sensation Ellie Simmonds smashed another world record today – taking a further step towards a second gold medal in London's Paralympic Games.

The 17-year-old from Aldridge came first in her 200m medley heat – knocking two seconds off the world record.

"I was quite surprised this was a world record," she said following today's heat – which comes after she scooped gold on Saturday.

"I didn't see what the time was, but the crowd were going wild, so I thought it might have been good. I'm so happy with 3.06. I felt really, really good.

"It felt really easy. I wasn't that good in the warm-up so I was getting quite annoyed at myself. I'm quite chuffed. I'll go back and rest and get ready for tonight's final."

Ellie will return to the pool for the final this evening with hopes of another medal – as her hometown became the first in the West Midlands to boast a golden postbox in her honour. The teenager won the hearts and minds of the nation with her powerful victory in the 400m freestyle on Saturday.

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 viewers 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," he said. "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."

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

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." Crowds gathered in Aldridge High Street to see the post box turn gold in celebration of Saturday's medal.

Sarah Hughes, 37, of Moorfields Close, Aldridge, said she was at the Paralympics on Saturday and although she missed the swimming, she said the whole place was "buzzing".

She said: "It's very exciting that the post box will be painted gold.

"We walk past here every morning with the children on the way to school, it's inspiring a whole new generation."

Clare Cooper, a primary school teacher, from Pelsall, said: "This is fantastic news and an absolute credit for Ellie after her brilliant performance, we are all so proud of her, she really is inspiring a young generation."