POOLE-born Alice Tai topped the Paralympic podium less than three years after opting to have her right leg amputated to cap a super Saturday for Great Britain’s swimmers in Paris.

The 25-year-old from Barton on Sea completed a 36-minute gold rush with victory in the women’s 100m S8 backstroke after compatriots Stephen Clegg and William Ellard secured titles in world record times.

A stunning hat-trick for ParalympicsGB at La Defense Arena came amid silver for Poppy Maskill and bronze for Louise Fiddes.

Tai, a relay gold medallist at Rio 2016, missed Tokyo 2020 due to an elbow injury before deciding to undergo surgery below the knee due to pain in her club foot and nerve damage caused by using crutches.

(Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)

“The last three years have been kind of crazy,” said Tai, whose grandfather died early this year.

“I’ve had six surgeries on three different limbs over the course of like two and a half years, and a lot’s happened in my personal life.

“I feel like I’ve really made myself proud and made everyone supporting me proud.

“A lot of people know that it’s not been the easiest few years, so to come here and swim a time (like) that I’m really, really happy.

“To get my first individual gold at the Paralympics is super, super special.”

(Image: ParalympicsGB)

Tai touched the wall in a Paralympic record of one minute 9.06 seconds, 5.91 seconds ahead of Russian silver medallist Viktoriia Ishchiulova.

“It’s been two and a bit years since my amputation and I feel now that my stroke itself is balanced,” she added.

“I feel like the actual swim is pretty solid now, so I’m happy. I feel like I’m 80 per cent of the way there.”