Spain’s Paralympic ‘wonder girl’ Dmytriv focuses on more gold after meeting queen

PARIS: Spain´s all-conquering Paralympic swimming teenager Anastasiya Dmytriv may have completed a 100m breaststroke SB8 triple crown with victory in Paris but her attention has already turned to Wednesday´s freestyle S9 heat and further glory.

The Ukrainian-born 16-year-old powered to gold at the La Defense Arena on her Paralympic debut on Thursday four months after clinching the European success and a year on from her world championship title defence.

After securing Spain´s first gold at these Games, Dmytriv, who was born without her right forearm, was called the "wonder girl" and "pearl" of Spanish Paralympic swimming by Spanish sports newspaper Marca.

"I am very happy and very proud of the work done," the mild-mannered Dmytriv told reporters. "My ambition is to do my best and fight for the medal," she added.

Following victory at the pool, Dmytriv, who goes by the nickname Tasy, met Spain´s Queen Letizia, who is watching a variety of events in the French capital. "She told me that she was very proud and happy," Dmytriv said.

"And that now I had to do my best in the following events," she added. Dmytriv moved to Andalucia in southern Spain aged just two due to her parents´ work commitments.

She started swimming aged just four, and nine years later won her maiden world championship medal, 12 months before defending it. She was born in the western Ukrainian region of Lviv, which suffered attacks on energy facilities by Russian forces earlier this month as part of Moscow´s "special military operations".