COUNTY Durham swimmer Lyndon Longhorne got a season's best when he completed his first race in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games this morning.

The 25-year-old, originally from Crook but now living in Blaydon, swam a season's best time in the SB3 class 50m breaststroke heats.

He reacted quickly and finished in 58.79 seconds, which was 12th in the heats, and with the fastest eight swimmers going through, it wasn't quite enough to get him through to the finals, which take place later this morning.

 

 

Lyndon, who had amputations of his right leg above the knee, his left leg below the knee, his right hand and the fingertips on his left after contracting meningitis as a baby, has six more events to compete in over the next few days.

The Northern Echo:

Tokyo 2020 is Lyndon's debut Paralympic appearance, having trained since he was a schoolboy to represent Great Britain at the Games.

Many of his supporters from home, including swimming friends from Durham County Council's performance swimming scheme and Derwentside Swimming Club, were thrilled to see him fulfil his dream by competing at the Games this morning.

His former primary school teacher, Patricia Arce, who now lives in Canada, asked him on Facebook: "Did you hear me cheering? So proud of you Lyndon!!!"

She told The Northern Echo: "I am so incredibly proud of him! Continue to show him the love of the NorthEast!"

Another friend told him: "Well done Lyndon Longhorne! That’s one down!

"Just to even see your name up there blows us away!"

And among the well wishers ahead of the event were colleagues at EE.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054.