Chippenham swimming star Stephanie Millward broke a European record at Sheffield at the weekend and has predicted she will go one better on Sunday.

The 27-year-old was competing at the British International Disability Championships and set a new best in the heats of the S9 100m backstroke record.

Amazingly, the former Corsham School pupil says she didn’t realise how fast she was going and achieved the feat despite deliberately slowing down on the final length.

“Most people would normally go faster in the final,” she laughed.

“But I was so far ahead at one point that I started doing swimming drills towards the end. I was trying to keep my shoulder at a 45 degree angle but still broke the record.

“I probably would have broken the world record had I carried on. I’m competing on Sunday in Manchester though and hope to break it there instead.”

Millward, who suffers with Multiple Sclerosis, finished with a bronze medal in the final of the backstroke, a welcome relief after she failed to win a medal at the Beijing Paralympics.

She also equalled teammate Louise Watkin’s European record in the 100m freestyle and set new British bests in the S9 50m and 100m butterfly.

Millward will also compete in Monday’s Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.