Whiston wins gold after ill father makes rare trip

Brock Whiston, already a Paralympic champion, world champion and world record holder, added a Commonwealth Games gold to her collection on Wednesday. The 29-year-old English swimmer won the women's 100m breaststroke SB8 in a new Games record.

Her victory was made extra special by the presence of her father Gel, who made a rare trip to watch her race. It was the first time in 17 years he had been poolside to see her compete. The last occasion was when Whiston's mother was battling cancer; she has since recovered. Gel typically avoids swimming venues because he dislikes the heat and the smell of chlorine. Recently, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

"I just wanted to make him proud," Whiston told TNT Sports. "I just wanted to win this race for him. I didn't care about the time."

After the race, Whiston, who works at a primary school, spotted her father during her victory lap. "He gave me a kiss on the head and said 'love you'. I think he was shellshocked," she said.

Asked if he would return for future competitions, Gel declined. "He said he's done it now. He's not coming back," Whiston said. "He is very happy to support from home. Just to have him there that once was a special moment."