Ellie Cole walked onto the pool deck for the women’s 100m S9 freestyle final with extra purpose.
It seemed slower than usual, more deliberate, as she looked around the packed arena at Sandwell Aquatics Centre.
You could see her mind ticking over, thinking about the last time before retirement.
And when Australia’s most decorated female Paralympian touched the wall in fifth place, it all started to come out.
“Walking away from the pool and looking behind me one last time, I think that’s when it really hit me,” an emotional Cole said.
Ellie Cole, right, embraced long-time rival Sophie Pascoe after her final race.(AAP: Dave Hunt)
“It’s really special to be a Paralympian, I don’t think I can really put into words how much the Paralympic movement has completely changed my life.
“I was just thinking back to when I was a little girl and it felt like only yesterday I had a floatie on my back.
“So much has happened since then, and I owe everything that I am to the Paralympic movement and knowing that it’s over now, I guess I’ve got to find something else to do.”
While Cole couldn’t nab a medal in her final race, it hardly matters.
She came to Birmingham to say goodbye to her sport, to her friends, to an important part of her life, and she’s done it her way.
“I just fell in love with everything that being a Paralympian was, that’s why I went to four Games, I would go to so many more if my body would allow me to,” she said.
“Now I get to sit back and watch the Aussies dominate for the next five days, and I’m the world’s biggest swimming fan and I get poolside tickets, so it’s pretty great.”
The first timers club
Sam Short was thrilled to win silver.(ABC Sport: Amanda Shalala)
Sam Short will be sure to get Cole excited in the stands over the coming days.
In his first international final, the 18-year-old was part of an Australian trifecta in the men’s 400 metres freestyle.
World champion Elijah Winnington won gold, Short took silver, and Mack Horton bronze.
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