Tokyo Paralympics: Former Telethon Kid, WA’s Ben Popham, qualifies fastest for 100m freestyle S8 final

Ben SmithThe West Australian
Camera IconBen Popham was the only swimmer in his field to break the 59 second barrier, solidifying his chances of a medal in tonight’s final. Credit: The West Australian

West Australia’s only swimmer at the Paralympics has put the rest of the field on the notice after qualifying fastest for the 100m freestyle S8 final.

Ben Popham was the only swimmer in his field to break the 59 second barrier, solidifying his chances of a medal in tonight’s final.

The northern suburbs product was third at the turn, but produced a scintillating final 50m to finish in a time of 58.95 seconds, a body length in front of his competitors.

A former Telethon kid, Popham first announced himself to the swimming world at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London.

Popham, who turns 21 next week, swam a time of 57.89 to claim silver in the 100m freestyle S8 at those games, before grabbing a bronze in the 50m freestyle S8 and 4x100m freestyle 34 Points.

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His attention will now turn to tonight’s final, which is due to begin just after 7.15pm WST.

Popham’s time was just one of many successes the Australian team enjoyed in the pool this morning,

16 year-old Alex Tuckfield set a personal best of 1.6 seconds in the 400m freestyle S9, and will be joined in the final by Will Martin and Brenden Hall.

Camera IconPopham, right, was a 2011 Little Telethon Star. Credit: Viva Photography/Viva Photography
Camera IconWA swimmer Ben Popham training in Cairns ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Credit: Wade Brennan, Swimming Australia/RegionalHUB

Ellie Cole and and Lakeisha Patterson finished first and second in their 400m Freestyle S9 heat to qualify for tonight’s final.

In the 100m butterfly S14, Ben Hance and Ricky Betar booked their spot in the men’s final, while Ruby Storm and Paige Leonhardt did likewise for the women’s final.

Rowan Crothers and Tom Gallagher qualified first and fifth respectively for the 50m freestyle S10 final, while Ahmed Kelly qualified for the 50m breastroke SB3 final.

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