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Mereshko has Simmonds in her sights at Glasgow 2015
Ukrainian Yelyzaveta Mereshko is hoping to challenge the dominance of Great Britain’s multiple world and Paralympic champion at the swimming Worlds from 13 July. 29 Jun 2015
Ellie Simmonds of Great Britain smiles to winner Yelyzaveta Mereshko of the Ukraine after she competes in the Women's 100m Freestyle Final S6 at the 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships in Eindhoven.
“People say: ‘A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is a bad soldier’. I also want to be the best one in all events.”
Ukraine’s Yelyzaveta Mereshko is preparing to mount a challenge against Great Britain’s seven-time world champion Eleanor Simmonds at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships from 13 July.
Twenty-two-year-old Mereshko, who currently holds the season’s fastest time in the women’s 400m freestyle S6, a title that Simmonds has won at every World Championships and Paralympic Games since 2008, credits her admiration for the British superstar as her inspiration:
“There are always idols in the sport, and the athletes who just started their sport career always dream to become the best one, trying to beat the results of talented athletes.
“People say: ‘A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is a bad soldier’. I also want to be the best one in all events.”
Mereshko stormed to her first international titles at the 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, winning the 50m and 100m freestyle S6 as well as two relay titles.
However, it was world record holder Simmonds who triumphed over 400m, also collecting victories in the 200m individual medley SM6 and 100m breaststroke SB6.
In April this year, the Ukrainian registered 5:26.00 in the 400m, whilst Simmonds’ season’s best is 5:27.37.
Mereshko has faith that her training and preparations could help her achieve some impressive results at the Worlds in Glasgow, Great Britain, between 13-19 July, including in Simmonds’ blue riband event.
“I’ll do my best to be the first in this distance,” Mereshko said. “During the year, I was trying to improve my skills and was working hard. Thus I hope to show high results.
“We have been training for the whole year to get better. Hopefully we will honourably represent our country.”
The 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships will feature around 580 athletes from nearly 70 countries and will be one of the biggest qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Tickets are still available and all seven days of action will be shown live at the event website alongside live results.
Fans can also follow @IPCSwimming on Twitter and Facebook and Paralympics Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates and pictures.
