Several British Para-swimmers qualified for finals on the opening morning of the 2024 Paralympics as the sporting action got under way in Paris.

Teenage sensations William Ellard and Olivia Newman-Baronius, who are two of 16 debutants on the swimming team, comfortably came through their respective S14 100m butterfly heats at La Defense Arena.

Ellard, 18, and Newman-Baronius, 17, who both won gold at the Open European Championships in Madeira in May, will be strong favourites to win their finals.

Ellard swims at 17:35, while world record holder Newman-Baronius’ final follows at 17:42 BST and she will be alongside team-mates Poppy Maskill, who set a blistering pace in the second heat, and Louise Fiddes.

Toni Shaw also stood out in the women’s S9 400m freestyle and will be hoping for a medal in her final (16:40).

And Tully Kearney led from the front in the women’s S5 200m freestyle. The 27-year-old will be hoping to upgrade the silver she won at Tokyo 2020 in the final (19:40).

Just an hour into the session, a world record was broken in the women’s S9 50m freestyle by Christie Raleigh-Crossley of the United States. She powered to the wall in 27.28 seconds.