USA’s Long continues success in pool on Day 2

“It's a very long race and my mind wanders and I think of other things and then I think, slow down, it's only a morning race, but it felt really good."

With the morning session of Day 2 complete, a familiar trend is coming to fruition at the Aquatics Centre, as five further Paralympic records fell.

Seven-time Paralympic medallist Jessica Long of USA set the stadium ablaze with her impressive effort as she shed three seconds off her previous Paralympic record in the women’s 400m freestyle S8.

Speaking about the amazing performance, she said: “Yesterday I could celebrate my gold medal (women's S8 100m butterfly) and today I put that behind me.

“It's a very long race and my mind wanders and I think of other things and then I think, slow down, it's only a morning race, but it felt really good."

After a successful first day in the pool, Great Britain got off to a blistering start in the second day of swimming action.

All of their athletes in the men’s 400m freestyle S8 occupied the three quickest qualifying places, with Sam Hynd leading the pack on 4:33:25, ahead of Thomas Young and his brother Ollie Hynd.

Long then continue her pursuit to add to her Paralympic gold tally after Thursday’s victory by cruising to a new Paralympic record time of 4:44:52.

After narrowly losing to Jonathan Fox in Thursday’s final, Ukrainian Yevheniy Bohodayko responded emphatically in the men’s 50m butterfly S7, by crushing his heat in a new European record time of 30:41. Matthew Levy finished his closest rival in a new Oceanic record of 31:68.

Not to be outdone by her countryman, Jacqueline Freney too stole an Oceanic record as she put in a comprehensive performance in the women’s 50m butterfly S7, winning in 36:03.

The trend continued, and it was records galore in the men’s 50m freestyle S10, with Andre Brasil winning in a new Paralympic record time 23:50 to qualify for the evening’s time.

Summer Ashley Mortimer was the next to scalp a record, as she set 28:21 to take the Paralympic record and qualify with ease in the women’s 50m freestyle S10.

World-record holder Matthew Cowdrey was given a stiff warning shot in the men’s 100m backstroke S9 that his title may be under threat as he qualified in seventh place, with compatriot Michael Auprince through fastest in 1:03:86.

Talking about his time, the Australian said: “I probably miscalculated a little bit. As long as I am in the final, that's all that matters.

“I'll have to pull my socks up in these morning swims.”

As the star of the pool the day prior – Natalie Du Toit was too left reeling in the third qualifying place in the women’s 100m backstroke S6 behind Australian winner Ellie Cole.

Another close heat, and another record followed as USA’s Bradley Snyder won the men’s 100m freestyle S11 in a new Paralympic record time of 57:18, as he edged out Bozun Yang of China in a new Asian record of 57:35.

A double breaking of the Paralympic record in the men’s 100m butterfly was next, as Ihar Boki first smashed it to short lived jubilation as his time was bettered by Australia’s Timothy Antalfy in the next heat, who claimed the record in 56:03.

Elsewhere, there were good qualifying victories for Great Britain’s Chloe Davies in the women’s 100m backstroke S14, China’s Li Guizhi in the women’s 100m freestyle S11, and Korea’s Lee In Kook in the men’s 100m backstroke S14.

Medal favourites Nataliia Proglogaieva, Sarah Louise Rung and Teresa Perales all coasted through in a close women’s 200m individual medley SM5 heat.

Ukraine’s Eskender Mastafaiev squeezed past Paralympic champion David Smetanine to the fastest qualifying spot in the men’s 50m freestyle – winning in 38:77.