\n<\/p>\n
Winnifrith had qualified second-fastest for the final behind Neutral Paralympic Athlete and defending champion Mariia Pavlova.<\/p>\n
But Pavlova started the final strongly and maintained her dominance, beating her own world record by 0.77 seconds with a time of 1:26.09 as the Briton set a new personal best of 1:29.69 ahead of Canada\u2019s Tess Routliffe (1:31.38).<\/p>\n
“I’m really happy with that swim. Much as I wanted the gold, it’s still a silver medal and a lifetime best,” said the Kent swimmer, who, like her idol Ellie Simmonds, has now won a Paralympic medal aged 13.<\/p>\n
“I knew I had to fight for a medal. I tried to catch the other girl as much as possible but today it wasn’t enough.<\/p>\n
“Ellie has influenced me so much and I\u2019ve now met her a few times and she has really helped me.”<\/p>\n
Winnifrith is Britain’s youngest Paralympic swimming medallist since Scotland’s Abby Kane claimed S13 backstroke silver at Rio 2016, six weeks after her 13th birthday.<\/p>\n
Joanne Round, later Joanne Rout, remains Britain’s youngest Paralympic champion after she won two relay golds at the 1988 Seoul Games aged 12.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n