#Glasgow2014: Downie Claims Commonwealth Silver in PB Time

Western Australian Institute of Sport swimmer Katherine Downie has won silver in the women’s Para-sport 200m IM SM10 after setting a new personal best in the final at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Having qualified third fastest for the final, the 18 year-old produced the swim of her life to set a huge personal best of 2:31.98 to hold off Canada’s Aurelie Rivard (2:32.09).

Downie went out hard in the opening butterfly leg, reaching the first 50m split in 31.83 to put herself in second position before establishing a healthy lead for silver across the backstroke and breaststroke legs.

Rivard made a strong move in the first 15m off the wall in the closing freestyle lap, but Downie dug deep to fend off the Canadian and touch home for silver behind Commonwealth champion Sophie Pascoe (2:27.74).

Fellow West Australian swimmer Madeleine Scott finished fourth in a time of 2:40.61. Scott won silver in the 200m breaststroke S9 earlier in the meet.

Downie’s medal success adds to the dual Paralympic gold she won at the 2012 London Games, and the silver she won at last year’s IPC World Championships.