Viktoriia Ishchiulova secured a 15th Para-swimming gold of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games for the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC), triumphing in the women's S8 50 metres freestyle.

The 16-year-old clinched victory in 29.91sec at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, with Brazil's Cecilia Kethlen Jeronimo de Araujo 0.92sec behind in second and Italy's Xenia Francesca Palazzo finishing third in 31.17sec.

Earlier in the day, Ishchiulova won the first qualifying heat in 30.35sec.

Ishchiulova is the reigning European champion across four events, after she earned gold medals in the S8 50m freestyle, S8 100m backstroke, SB8 100m breaststroke and SM8 200m individual medley at the delayed championships in Funchal in Portugal in May 2021.

Viktoriia Ishchiulova triumphed in the women's S8 50m freestyle with a time of 29.91 seconds ©Getty Images
Viktoriia Ishchiulova triumphed in the women's S8 50m freestyle with a time of 29.91 seconds ©Getty Images

She also secured silvers in the S8 100m freestyle and 4x100m medley 34 points relay, as well as a bronze in the S9 100m butterfly.

Shortly after making her international debut, Ishchiulova clinched bronze medals in the S8 100m butterfly and SM8 200m individual medley at the World Para Athletics Championships in London in 2019.

Ishchiulova has a limb deficiency as she was born without her right arm.

She first took up swimming in 2012.

The Para-swimmer who was born and based in Orsk was named among the Best Athletes of the Year in the Orenburg region in 2018.

Last year, she was awarded the Master of Sport of International Class in the Russian Federation title.