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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Paralympic hero returns to school | Paralympic hero returns to school |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A teenage double-gold medallist at the Paralympics in China has been given a heroes' welcome on her first day back at school. | |
| Pupils and teachers at Olchfa comprehensive in Swansea chanted 13-year-old Eleanor Simmonds' name as she arrived there on Wednesday. | Pupils and teachers at Olchfa comprehensive in Swansea chanted 13-year-old Eleanor Simmonds' name as she arrived there on Wednesday. |
| She is from Walsall in the west Midlands but lives in Swansea in the week because of its facilities. | She is from Walsall in the west Midlands but lives in Swansea in the week because of its facilities. |
| Eleanor swam to gold in the 100m and 400m freestyle races in Beijing. | Eleanor swam to gold in the 100m and 400m freestyle races in Beijing. |
| To shouts of "Ellie, Ellie" the teenager was driven back to school in grand style surrounded by a group of close friends in the back of a stretched Jaguar car. | To shouts of "Ellie, Ellie" the teenager was driven back to school in grand style surrounded by a group of close friends in the back of a stretched Jaguar car. |
| She was greeted by thunderous applause as she stepped out of the car with tears in her eyes. | She was greeted by thunderous applause as she stepped out of the car with tears in her eyes. |
| It's fantastic to be back but I just never expected any of this Eleanor Simmonds | It's fantastic to be back but I just never expected any of this Eleanor Simmonds |
| Classmates rushed to hug her, presenting her with several bouquets as she handed over her gold medals for examination. | Classmates rushed to hug her, presenting her with several bouquets as she handed over her gold medals for examination. |
| "It's fantastic to be back but I just never expected any of this," a tearful Eleanor said. | "It's fantastic to be back but I just never expected any of this," a tearful Eleanor said. |
| "I never expected to win gold and I never expected this." | "I never expected to win gold and I never expected this." |
| Her mother Val Simmonds, took over responsibility for the flowers as her daughter was ushered inside the school for a private celebration. | Her mother Val Simmonds, took over responsibility for the flowers as her daughter was ushered inside the school for a private celebration. |
| She then received a third gold medal in the form of a giant cake, while the school's 2,000 pupils were all presented with cakes of their own to mark the event. | She then received a third gold medal in the form of a giant cake, while the school's 2,000 pupils were all presented with cakes of their own to mark the event. |
| A private assembly for fellow Year Nine pupils then took place where the Paralympian was due to cut the symbolic cake. | A private assembly for fellow Year Nine pupils then took place where the Paralympian was due to cut the symbolic cake. |
| The swimmer and a group of friends arrived in a stretched Jaguar | The swimmer and a group of friends arrived in a stretched Jaguar |
| "We are all shell-shocked by the greeting she has had since returning to the UK," said Mrs Simmonds, 55. | "We are all shell-shocked by the greeting she has had since returning to the UK," said Mrs Simmonds, 55. |
| "None of it has sunk in yet. It has all been so overwhelming," she added. | "None of it has sunk in yet. It has all been so overwhelming," she added. |
| Her wins in the Water Cube made her Great Britain's youngest ever individual Paralympic gold medallist. | Her wins in the Water Cube made her Great Britain's youngest ever individual Paralympic gold medallist. |
| She was not expected to win in Beijing and had been seen as a prospect for London 2012. | She was not expected to win in Beijing and had been seen as a prospect for London 2012. |
| But Eleanor, who was born with achondroplasia, or dwarfism, won the 400m race in a new world record propelling her into the ranks of British sporting celebrity. | But Eleanor, who was born with achondroplasia, or dwarfism, won the 400m race in a new world record propelling her into the ranks of British sporting celebrity. |
| Classmates and teachers alike today had nothing but praise for the teenager. | Classmates and teachers alike today had nothing but praise for the teenager. |
| She is a very well driven individual who has a lot of support and she brings the same attitude to her schoolwork as she does to everything else Dave Williams, Olchfa comprehensive school | She is a very well driven individual who has a lot of support and she brings the same attitude to her schoolwork as she does to everything else Dave Williams, Olchfa comprehensive school |
| "Wow," said Chloe Webb, 13. | "Wow," said Chloe Webb, 13. |
| "We've been watching what she did in Beijing and it was amazing. Everyone in the school has been talking about her and waiting for her to come back." | "We've been watching what she did in Beijing and it was amazing. Everyone in the school has been talking about her and waiting for her to come back." |
| Dave Williams, Eleanor's head of year, said: "She is an inspiration to everyone around her. | Dave Williams, Eleanor's head of year, said: "She is an inspiration to everyone around her. |
| "She has done an awful lot to put disability on the map and show that you can take a lot of positives from it. | "She has done an awful lot to put disability on the map and show that you can take a lot of positives from it. |
| "Everyone here is really excited about having her back and returning to school and regular lessons is just what she needs to keep grounded. | "Everyone here is really excited about having her back and returning to school and regular lessons is just what she needs to keep grounded. |
| "But she is a very well-driven individual who has a lot of support and she brings the same attitude to her schoolwork as she does to everything else." | "But she is a very well-driven individual who has a lot of support and she brings the same attitude to her schoolwork as she does to everything else." |
| Pupils had another reason to cheer when they learned that they were being given a half-day off in recognition of Eleanor's achievement. | Pupils had another reason to cheer when they learned that they were being given a half-day off in recognition of Eleanor's achievement. |