Britain’s Louise Watkin has set her sights on upsetting the trailblazer of Paralympic swimming Natalie du Toit in the South African’s final event.
Watkin qualified third fastest in the S9 100m freestyle with Du Toit once again setting the pace going into this evening’s session.
But the 20-year-old Briton, who already has a silver and two bronzes from London, is hoping to cap her Games with a gold.
“I’d like to go up against her and see what I can do,” said Watkin, who was just half a second off her personal best in the heats.
“She’s been unbelievable for Paralympic sport and she’s well known everywhere that I go. She’s a great swimmer but is beatable and I believe I can do it here.”
Du Toit herself admitted it would be a night of mixed emotions as she bows out with what she hopes will be a 14th Paralympic gold in the final swim of her career.
“It’s going to be a close race,” she said. “There will be some sadness but I should be able to suppress the emotion.”
Britain’s swimmers look likely to be eclipsed by their rivals on the penultimate night of action in the pool regardless of the outcome in Du Toit’s race.
Australian Matt Cowdrey will go for the 13th Paralympic gold of his career in the S9 100m freestyle while Ihar Boki, of Belarus, is targeting gold No5 in the SM13 200m individual medley.
