Simmonds on course for second gold

Ellie Simmonds' star appears set to rise even higher as she shocked herself by lowering her own world record in the heats of the SM6 200 metres individual medley at London 2012.

Natalie Jones qualified in second and Sascha Kindred led the way in the men's equivalent while Jonathan Fox successfully returned to the pool for the first time since his golden moment on the opening night but it is Simmonds who commands the spotlight.

This morning she produced a blistering freestyle leg to make her rivals appear as if they were treading water to touch in three minutes 06.97 seconds, 1.13secs inside her own world mark from March when she became the first swimmer to set a global record in the Aquatics Centre.

Fellow Briton Jones was second fastest through in 3mins 16.41secs and although she was just 0.22secs ahead of Verena Schott, it offers real hope of two further British medals while Liz Johnson is also through.

Kindred put the disappointment of finishing fourth in the SB7 100m breaststroke, in which he was defending champion, behind him to lead the way in the men's race in 2:44.29. Matt Whorwood was through in fourth.

Fox was the first British pool champion in London when he won the S7 100m backstroke.

Today, he qualified second for the S7 100m freestyle final, just being touched out by American Lantz Lamback in a stroke for stroke duel in 1:02.47.

Fox has been the focus of much attention since his gold medal including a new Twitter account with almost 1,700 followers with Olympian Liam Tancock sending a message of congratulations and a regulation 'BOOM!'. Josef Craig was fourth fastest.

Susie Rodgers was second fastest into the S7 100m freestyle in 1:12.86.

James Anderson was seventh into the S2 100m freestyle final with Thomas Young edging into the S8 50m freestyle in joint seventh.