13-year-old Iona Winnifrith claims swimming silver for Paralympics GB in Paris [Video]

13-year-old Iona Winnifrith shone on Paralympic debut as the British swimmer claimed silver in the 100m breaststroke in Paris.

Winnifrith is the youngest member of the current ParalympicsGB squad but set a lifetime best to come second in the women’s SB7 race at La Defense Arena.

Her time of one minute and 29.69 seconds was only bested by neutral athlete Mariia Pavlova, who set a world record to win gold, with Canadian Tess Routliffe claiming bronze in third.

The Brit, who has a form of skeletal dysplasia, is already a double European Champion and savoured her first Paralympic medal.

‘I’m really happy with that performance and getting a silver medal at 13 is really cool,’ Winnifrith said after her race.

‘I spoke with my coach (and the plan was) just try and keep up with the girls all the way through and then power it through the last length.

‘As much as I wanted that gold, I just knew …