British swimmer William Ellard shattered the S14 100‑metre freestyle world record with a blistering 50.41 seconds, shaving 0.49 seconds off Brazil’s Arthur Xavier Ribeiro. The win came at the Aquatics GB Championships in London, where Ellard also claimed gold in the 200‑metre freestyle and the mixed 4×100‑metre relay.

Ellard’s triumph follows his gold medals at the 2024 Paralympics, and the new benchmark secures his spot in the European Championships in Paris this summer. His record‑breaking swim also boosts the GB squad’s confidence as they prepare for the Paris Games, where S14 athletes will compete for medals and showcase their elite performance levels. The achievement underscores the rising standard of S14 competition and places London on the global stage.

When asked about his target, Ellard said, “It was the aim. It would be nice to go 49 one day but it hurt for the last 15 metres, I just had to put my head down.” The swimmer’s focus on technique shows a clear path to further improvement.

Meanwhile, Angharad Evans set a new British record in the 200‑metre breaststroke, finishing in 2:19.70. Her time adds depth to the national squad ahead of major international meets.