Tully Kearney overcomes the pain to be world champion

The Aldridge star loves nothing better than competing in front of a home crowd, winning no fewer than four gold medals at the 2015 global gathering in Glasgow.

And she delivered again in London, scooping S5 50m freestyle gold on Monday and then topping the podium again in the S5 200m freestyle yesterday.

Kearney’s career has been bumpy to say the least – a deterioration in her condition through dystonia saw her reclassified in 2015 and she has suffered countless injuries. To finish another turbulent season with more success on the world stage was handsome reward for the 22-year-old, overcome with her achievement that came against the odds.

“I’ve been through so much in my career,” she said. “I’ve had surgery under a year ago and there were so many times I didn’t think I’d make it.

“I’ve been out of the pool more than I’ve trained this season. It’s absolutely amazing for me to go from that to winning world gold.

“It’s absolutely crazy. There are so many times I’ve felt so down and that it wasn’t going to happen. I just love racing, I wanted to get out there and feel the excitement of racing. That’s helped and motivated me through the dark times.

“Halfway down the course in the final, that pain started to kick in. I just knew I needed to dig in that extra bit and wanted to win.”

Meanwhile, para swimming poster girl Ellie Simmonds says it’s nights like winning world bronze in London that helped her fall back in love with her sport.

A staggering 13 years on from her World Championship debut, the 24-year-old roared on to the S6 400m freestyle podium.

After taking time away from the pool after Rio 2016, the five-time Paralympic champion says she’s going nowhere with the Tokyo 2020 Games less than a year away.

“I was in a really negative frame of mind in 2016, but I’m in a much better place now,” said the Walsall-born star, who was going for her 34th international medal in the 200m individual medley SM6 today. “I’m still going strong. Sometimes as athletes we just think about the moment, the medal, or the time, but there’s a bigger picture.

“I’m still here. It’s great that the world’s moving forward, world records going down – that’s sport and that’s the Paralympics these days.

“My main aim is next year. After this event, it’s all steam ahead to Tokyo.”

Simmonds won her 33rd international medal at the pool she trains in day in, day out and where she became a household name at the London 2012 Paralympics.

She was the third-fastest qualifier, behind Ukrainian world record holder Yelyzaveta Mereshko and Jiang, and touched in 5:21.78 to finish in the same position in the final.

Simmonds was over the moon to reach the rostrum in front of a raucous home crowd, but felt she is yet to find top speed.

“I would have liked a bit of a faster time, but I’m so happy with the bronze medal,” she said.

“It’s nice to have my coach, my family, my friend. I really enjoyed the race. I wish I could be a bit more happy with myself.

“It was just the first day, that pressure of being at home. They held us on the block for ages, which is probably nothing big, but that little extra percentage.

“It’s amazing to be in the pool - I know all the lifeguards! It’s a special place.”

Sainsbury’s is proud of its continued sponsorship of ParalympicsGB. They are the first Paralympic partner starting in 2012 – and committed to continue their support until 2020. Sainsbury’s want to take an active role in inspiring future generations.