Swimming pool renamed in honour of Ellie Simmonds

A civic reception will be held and a swimming pool renamed in honour of gold medal winning sensation Ellie Simmonds, it was announced today.

The 17-year-old from Aldridge smashed her own world record in the 200m medley last night to claim her second gold of the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Mayor of Walsall Dennis Anson today said a civic reception would be held in her honour.

"She's done it again – Ellie, Walsall is so proud of you," he said.

"We do want to hold some sort of civic reception for her. The only problem will be whether she can get the time, she is going to be very in demand."

He said people across Walsall would be cheering her on in the finals of the 50m freestyle today. She qualified for the final after coming second in her heat today with a time of 36.45 seconds.

"We will be shouting ourselves hoarse at the television and radio when you line up to start," he added.

Staff at Ellie's former primary school Cooper and Jordan, in The Green, Aldridge, today announced the school's swimming pool will be renamed after her.

Headteacher Robert Trawford said Ellie was a perfect role model to the pupils.

"It is a stunning achievement," he said. "In school, she was so hard working, so determined. She wanted to be treated the same as everybody else and she was.

"She's an absolute credit to her family and the school."

Teacher Hilary Richardson, who taught Ellie swimming for a year, said everyone at the school had been amazed at how talented she was.

"Nothing was too great a challenge for her," she said.

It comes after a postbox in Aldridge High Street was painted gold in her honour.

Council leaders paid tribute to Ellie, who also attended Aldridge School, and said she had "put Walsall on the map".

Deputy leader of Walsall Council Adrian Andrew today said:"I went to look at the first gold postbox in the town with my children yesterday and they were so excited, there were people around it taking photographs.

"Ellie's success is something that has put Walsall on the map and is something we can all be very proud of."

Ellie won yesterday's race in a time of 3mins 5.39 seconds to a standing ovation in the aquatics centre and in front of Prime Minister David Cameron.

On Saturday, an estimated 2.9 million tuned in to see her win the 400m freestyle.

In Beijing four years ago, she won two golds.

It was revealed last month Ellie's quest for gold was the British public's most highly-anticipated event of the Games.

A survey of more than 2,000 people saw 10 per cent choose Ellie as the event they were most likely to tune in for.

Speaking on television after her win last night, Ellie said she was "chuffed and so happy". She said it had been a tough race but she had been spurred on by the home support.