Clegg, Ellard and Tai topped the podium in back-to-back races where world and Paralympic records fell at the pool. Maskill also secured silver and Fiddes bronze.

The gold rush began when Clegg powered ahead of the field in the men’s S12 100m backstroke and broke a 12-year world record in 59.02.

The 28-year-old had the race of his life after he finished a body length ahead of Azerbaijain’s Raman Salei and Ukraine Yaroslav Denysenko. The win was his first Paralympic title and an upgrade on the bronze he won at Tokyo 2020. He also won a world gold in 2023.

It was then Ellard’s turn to celebrate his second medal of the Games in the S14 200m freestyle. He also smashed the world record in 1:51.30.

The 18-year-old, who won silver in the men’s S14 100m butterfly, punched the air with delight after he landed ahead of Canada’s Nicholas Bennett and Australia’s Jack Ireland. The 200m freestyle was Ellard’s strongest event, having previously recorded a world silver and European gold.

It was then seven-time world champion Tai’s turn to shine when she won her first individual Paralympic gold medal in the women’s S8 100m backstroke. The 25-year-old was firm favourite going into the final having finished three seconds ahead of the field in the heats.

She extended that to six seconds to set a Paralympic record of 1:09.06. Neutral Paralympic athlete Viktoriia Ishchiulova took the silver and China’s Tingting Zheng bronze.

Tai’s win was remarkable given she missed the Tokyo 2020 Games because of injury and later had her leg amputated.

Maskill and Fiddes claimed silver and bronze in the women’s S14 200m freestyle. It was a second medal of the Games for Maskill, 19, who won the S14 100m butterfly.

They had lined up in the centre lanes along with team-mate Olivia Newman-Baronius having qualified fastest in the heats. It was the second fourth place for 17-year-old Newman-Baronius – she finished just outside the medals in the 100m butterfly. Neutral Paralympic athlete Valeriia Shabalina, the defending champion, retained her title.

Winnifrith showed age is no barrier to success when she reached the final of the women’s SM7 200m individual medley. The European gold medallist qualified in seventh place in the heats.

And Humphrey will compete in her second final in Paris after qualifying sixth in the women’s S11 50m freestyle. She also came sixth in the women’s S11 400m freestyle.