Maisie Summers-Newton: succeeding Simmonds and creating her own legacy

Image courtesy of British Swimming.

Maise Summers-Newton was once the inspired. She now aims to be the inspiration.

In 2012 the then 10-year-old watched on as Ellie Simmonds, a fellow S6 swimmer with dwarfism, dazzled in her home Games with four medals, two of them gold.

Simmonds, who had also won two titles at the Beijing 2008 Games at 13, now finally became a household name and she helped transform the Paralympic movement globally.

She and fellow Ellie – Robinson – continued the run of British S6 success with further Paralympic honours at Rio 2016, before Summers-Newton joined them at Tokyo 2020. There she emulated the pair and became a double Paralympic champion herself.

A new star was born and following the retirement of Simmonds and Robinson she now aims to maintain that momentum, as well as the growth of the sport.

“We were like the ‘three S6 girls’ and it is a really strange not having them there after everything they did for Paralympic sport,” she tells the Women’s Sports Alliance (WSA).

“I still see myself looking up to them, but for me now to just to even inspire one person through the whole world would be amazing.

“Whether that’s getting them into sport, or making them feel happy about themselves, it’s just such a great honour to inspire anyone, at any time, at any level.”

Summers-Newton wins her first Paralympic title at Tokyo 2020

Four years on from London 2012, the now teenage Summers-Newton, would again watch-on from home – with a degree of envy – as Simmonds and Robinson starred at the 2016 Paralympics in Brazil.

It would be the last time she imagined what it would be like to compete at the Games. On 26th August 2021 the swimmer lined up for the SM6 200m individual medley event.

“After watching Rio 2016, me and my previous coach sat down and said that’s the goal, we want to try and get a gold medal at the next Paralympic Games,” she recalls.

“When I touched the wall, turned around and saw number one next to my name I was so happy. It was absolutely incredible and there was so much excitement and buzz, but also a sense of relief because it was five years of pure hard work and dedication.”

Two days later she delivered another golden performance in the SB6 100m breaststroke.

“My confidence before the races was really good because there wasn’t anything more I could have done to get to that level and it obviously paid off because I got gold medals!”

“Life after it has been pretty fantastic and I’ve been given so many amazing opportunities, but it’s been nice to settle back down with swimming for this season.”

A major highlight during a busy comeback year will be the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealths, which will feature her SB6 100m breaststroke event for the first time.

It will give Summers-Newton the opportunity to complete her set of major honours, by adding a Commonwealth title to her existing European, World and Paralympic honours.

It will also be the first time she has competed in an event which combines para and able-bodied swimmers, something the English swimmer says will be “incredible!”

“I’ve never really experienced a full home crowd as Tokyo was behind closed doors and London (2019 World Championships) had spectators but not to the size the Commonwealth Games, so it will be really special.

“To think that I’ll be swimming in the same pool and the same time as Adam Peaty or James Guy and people like that, it will be incredible!”

Summers-Newton swam in the Sandwell Aquatics Centre for the first time as part of the celebrations to mark 100 days to go until Birmingham 2022.

The 19-year-old, who will turn 20 two days before the Birmingham 2022 opening ceremony, is also excited about the potential legacy benefits of the Games.

The Sandwell Aquatics Centre is the only new facility created for the event and after becoming one of the first to swim in the pool Summers-Newton believes it will have a huge impact on the local community.

“If I lived this close by I’d be here all day and every day,” she says. “Having this Olympic-sized pool will hopefully be a huge boost for the local community and bring so much joy to people who can either take up swimming lessons, train hard or just enjoy the sport.

“The pool is absolutely fantastic. As soon as I did my first length I said the water felt really good, so it’s a ‘fast pool’ which makes me excited about quick races this summer.

“As I said, I was inspired by watching the home Games London 2012 and seeing Ellie Simmonds so hopefully with another home Games, a big crowd and fast races we can inspire another generation of para swimmers.”

Summers-Newton wins her second Paralympic gold at Tokyo 2020