Tumut swimmer Ashley Van Rijswijk has finished a close-up fifth in her Paralympic debut.
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It was a memorable Paralympics debut for the 20-year-old as she finished a gallant fifth in the Women's 100m Breaststroke (SB14) final at Tokyo.
Van Rijswijk, a member of the Wagga Swim Club, willed her way into medal calculations over the final 50m before being touched out in a thrilling finish.
Just 0.29 of a second separated third from sixth and Van Rijswijk was caught in the middle, grabbing fifth ahead of fellow Australian Paige Leonhardt.
Spanish champion Michelle Alonso Morales produced a world-record performance to win gold in a time of 1:12.02.
Van Rijswijk swam a time of 1:17.84 to finish fifth.
Great Britain's Louise Fiddes claimed silver in 1:15.93, while Brazil's Beatriz Borges Carneiro won bronze in a time of 1:17.61.
Van Rijswijk turned in fourth place and put herself in a strong position to medal, looking to almost grab third momentarily leading into the dramatic finish.
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Her time was just outside her personal best of 1:17.44.
The fifth-placed effort in the final came on the back of an impressive heat win on Sunday morning.
Van Rijswijk was slow away in the heat but managed to turn in third position, just 0.43 seconds off the pacesetter. She produced a strong final 50m to edge out Brazillian, Debora Borges Carneiro, by 0.12 seconds in a time of 1.18:43.
Coached by Gennadiy Labara in Wagga, Van Rijswijk has a large supporter base in the city after recently relocating here from Tumut. She has supporters across the Riverina, particularly in her home town of Tumut.
She was forced to base herself in Queensland alongside fellow members of the Australian swim team for more than a month leading up to Tokyo, due to concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions.
Van Rijswijk will now turn her attention to the S14 200m individual medley on Tuesday.
It will be a big occasion in more ways than one for Van Rijswijk, who will also celebrate her 21st birthday on Tuesday.
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