Great Britain won an impressive total of 27 gold medals at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming European Championships, which drew to a close on Sunday.

Eleanor Simmonds competing in the women’s 400m Freestyle S6 race.

British swimmers also set five world records and six European records at the Europasportpark in Berlin, proving themselves among the favourites to be competing for medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games next year.

Double Paralympic champion Eleanor Simmonds won four medals, breaking two world records in the process, while 14-year-old Hannah Russell took home a silver and a bronze at her first major championships. Also competing in her first major championships was Susannah Rodgers who bagged an incredible five golds and one silver medal.

Jonathan Fox was another Great British success story as he claimed three gold medals and set two world records, while Sam Hynd and his brother Ollie both won medals while competing against one another.

Overall, 31 world records were broken in Berlin, one of the last major gatherings of international athletes ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The medal table was topped by Ukraine, who took home 41 gold, 37 silver and 28 bronze medals. Among the stars of the championships were the Ukraine’s Yevheniy Bohodayko – who won an incredible 10 medals, eight of which were gold – and Ihar Boki of Belarus, who won four gold medals and broke three world records.

The British success in the championships bodes well for the team ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, which get under way on the 29 August next year. Ticket applications open on 9 September 2011.

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