Black Country swimming superstar Eleanor Simmonds has won her second gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, smashing her own world record.

Eleanor, aged 13, of Walsall won the women’s S6 400 metres title yesterday.

It added to her 100 metres success last week. She smashed her world record by almost seven seconds to 5min 41.34sec.

The 13-year-old was born in Walsall but competes for Swansea after moving to the area last year. She is a former former Aldridge Science College pupil.

She has achondroplasia, a genetic disorder leading to small stature.

Eleanor’s two gold medals have made her the second youngest British paralympic gold medallist ever.

Today her dad Steve told the Express & Star: “She did extremely well. It was a well-swum race tactically. She showed a great deal of maturity in her swimming. There was a great deal of pressure because this was the one she was expected to win.

“She did exactly what her coach wanted her to do; they all went off very quickly but she stuck to her game plan.”

Mr Simmonds said the family were today due to watch her race the 50-metre freestyle after she qualified for the heats earlier today.

Friends from the teenager’s former club in Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield, where she once trained also congratulated her on her win.

Having won the 100m, Eleanor said she had nothing to lose in her favourite event.

“I already had a gold medal, so anything else was a bonus,” she said.

“I went in there to do a PB (personal best) and see what would happen. I didn’t really expect the first gold medal, and to win this one is great.”

Her personal best – the former world record – stood at 5min 48.26sec and she was surprised to break it by such a large margin. “I was just going in there to break it a bit but seven seconds is just amazing,” she added.

“I knew I could do what I could do, but I didn’t know I could do it that fast. I gave it my all, and I was really tired getting out of the pool.”

By Deborah Stewart