WILTSHIRE swimmer Stephanie Millward put herself in pole position to end her wait for a Paralympic gold medal by obliterating the women's S8 100m backstroke Games record in this afternoon's heats in Rio.

Corsham's Millward will go into tonight's final at just before 11.30pm as the strong favourite to finally take a Paralympic title after a stunning swim.

The 24 year old, already twice a bronze medallist at these Games in the 100m and 400m freestyle, clocked 1:13.75 to storm through to the final more than five seconds quicker than the next fastest swimmer.

Her time was also three seconds quicker than the existing Games record of 1:16.74, set by compatriot Heather Frederiksen at the Beijing Games in 2008.

Millward said: "It went very well it went better than expected.

“I was told by my coach to go really slow, take it easy and enjoy the race, but I went out incredibly hard - 1:13, don’t ask me why.

“I did enjoy the race, I was just enjoying swimming and when you enjoy something you go really very fast.

“I got out at the end with a massive smile on my face, it was crazy, so hopefully I will swim faster tonight and do a nice time, we’ll see what happens.”

Millward, who won five silver medals and a bronze at the London 2012 Games but has yet to top the podium, is the current world record holder having set a time of 1:12.94 in Sheffield earlier this summer during her build-up to Rio.

FIND OUT HOW STEPHANIE GETS ON IN TONIGHT'S FINAL HERE LATER