Loughborough University

30/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 30/08/2024 18:17

Kearney wins second swimming gold as Holl claims bronze in the velodrome

Kearney wins second swimming gold as Holl claims bronze in the velodrome

30 August 2024

(L-R) Sliver Medalist Ukraine's Iryna Poida, Gold Medalist Great Britain's Tully Kearney and Italy's Monica Boggioni on the podium after the Women's 100m Freestyle S5 Final. Image provided by PA / Alamy.

Tully Kearney won another gold medal at the Paris Paralympics after convincingly winning the Women's 100m Freestyle S5 final.

The Loughborough University-based swimmer matched last night's gold medal performance with an equally brilliant swim to retain her title from Tokyo 2020.

Kearney, who holds the world record in the event, pulled away at the turn to romp home in 1:15.10. Iryna Poida of Ukraine finished second with Monica Bogginoi of Italy third.

Speaking to Channel 4, Kearney said: "[It's] pretty incredible. I was a bit concerned about this one. To retain my title means everything to me. It was such a late night [yesterday] and early start and not long in between to rest. It was really hard for all of us who swam last night to keep the energy up.

"This crowd is incredible. Because I am the first event tonight, there's way more people here than there were yesterday. They gave me that big push.

"I'm just so grateful for the team for helping me get here and for everyone that's helped us get here."

Over at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome, Loughborough Lightning Cycling rider Jenny Holl won bronze as she piloted visually impaired teammate Sophie Unwin in the Women's B 1000m time trial.

The duo stormed around the track in 1:07.879 to secure a well-deserved podium place in front a large and noisy British contingent in the crowd.

For all the latest Loughborough news around major global sporting events, visit the University's dedicated website here: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/athletes-global-stage/

Join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #Lboro2Paris

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 24/145

Loughborough is one of the country's leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings - the eighth year running.

Loughborough is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2024 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education's 'table of tables', and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as 'world-leading' or 'internationally-excellent'. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.