Magic Maskill seals hat-trick of Paralympic golds ... as Newman-Baronius bags bronze

Poppy Maskill became ParalympicGB’s most decorated athlete at Paris 2024 as she won her third gold of the Games – and admitted to feeling slightly annoyed.

Maskill triumphed in the Women’s S14 100m Backstroke after a flying final leg saw her pass the Neutral Paralympic Athlete Valeriia Shabalina and touch home in 1:05.74.

That was 0.94 seconds ahead of Shabalina, who held a 0.71 advantage after the first 50m.

It took her medal tally at her debut Paralympics to five.

However, Maskill was disappointed that she had not set a new personal best on her way to securing top spot.

She said: “I was a little bit annoyed because it was not a personal best but it was still a gold so I can’t be too annoyed. 

“I’m obviously happy with my medals as they are a great achievement but I’m slightly disappointed in my time because I know I can be better.

“I’ve stacked the medals in my room at the moment but I want to put them on display in my living room so I can see them.

Really cool

“It’s really cool to have five medals and the most of any ParalympicsGB athlete so far here. I would have thought it would be Alice (Tai) or someone else.”

Maskill, who was also victorious in the S14 100m Butterfly in a world record time and a member of the gold-medal winning Mixed S14 4x100m Relay team, spoke openly about her love of swimming.

The 19-year-old, who also won two silvers at her debut Paralympics, said: “I like the feeling of swimming. 

“No matter the mood I’m in, if I’m sad or happy, when I get in the water I feel calm and nice and it makes me feel better. 

“Training is one of my favourite things, alongside playing with my dogs.”

Maskill was joined on the podium by her British team-mate Olivia Newman-Baronius, who also produced a fantastic final 50m to earn a bronze medal.

She was in fourth place at the turn, narrowly behind the third British swimmer in the final, Megan Neave, but clocked a 34.99 split to secure a first individual Paralympic medal in a time of 1:08.74.

Neave was quicker than her morning heats time but had to settle for fourth as she finished in 1:09.59.

Newman-Baronius said: “It was one of the best races I’ve had since I’ve been here.

“I’ve had a few off races because there has been quite a lot of stress with getting used to the crowd but I’m really happy with that. It went really well and how my coach told me to swim so that’s good.”

When asked what the Games had given her, Neman-Baronius added: “Definitely confidence but at the same time, a lot of the fourth places gave make more motivation to do better.

“So its good that I’ve been here and got the experience of the future.

“Everyone is really supportive. I’m quite close to Bruce (Dee) and Harry (Stewart) and they give me a lot os support while I’m a bit upset after races – they make me feel a lot better. 

“Alice is a really good role model and sharing with her she has told me so many stories and it makes me feel better when I’ve not done well as she has been there so it’s really good.”