Pepper surprises himself to win 200m free title at IPC Worlds

By Sportsbeat staff

DANIEL Pepper won Britain's 16th and final gold medal at the IPC World Swimming Championships to round off a week to remember in Eindhoven.

Pepper qualified second fastest to the S14 200m freestyle final and didn't take the lead until the final length, surging through the field to win in 2.02.18.

"That gold was quite unexpected," he admitted. 

"I didn't think this morning that I would win that race but I put my head down and have come away with gold. I just knew I had to focus and if I did then I would have success.

"I am really happy with the way this week has gone. I think it has been so good and my races went to plan."

Elsewhere, Sascha Kindred, James Crisp, Stephanie Millward, Matthew Walker and women's 4x100m medley quartet, which featured Ellie Simmonds - who was going for her fifth gold medal - all settled for silvers.

Kindred, who won the 200m medley earlier in the week, was fuming after being edged into second, despite clocking a new European record 32.26 secs.

"I had a bad finish to that race," he said. "I just glided in but I still claimed silver. I got a European record so it was nice to end on."

There were also bronze medals for Natalie Massey, James Anderson and Rhiannon Henry, as British team performance director John Atkinson was again left beaming.

"There have been many pleasing aspects of the week for me," he said. 

"We saw 12 individuals win individual golds which shows the depth of talent that we have in the team.

 "There were a number of really notable performances from swimmers including Eleanor Simmonds and her four gold medals and Daniel Pepper who backed up his victory in the 100m Breaststroke with gold in the 200m Freestyle this evening.

 "This has been a great and professional team and one of the best that I have seen or worked with."