The 13-year-old's performance was the catalyst for a successful evening at the Water Cube, with David Roberts taking gold, Heather Frederiksen and Louise Watkin silver and Matt Walker bronze.

Anthony Kappes and tandem pilot rider Barney Storey had earlier won Britain's fourth cycling gold of the Games at the Laoshan Velodrome.

The athletics team also weighed in with silver medals for Shelly Woods and Chris Martin on the first day of competition at the Bird's Nest Stadium.

Britain lie in third place in the medal table behind hosts China and the United States at the end of day two with seven golds, five silvers and three bronze.

Simmonds timed her finish to perfection in the women's S6 100m freestyle to win in one minute 18.75 seconds and become the youngest individual British Paralympic champion of all time.

Simmonds, who was born in Walsall but competes for Swansea, forecast a medal on Sunday night – but she predicted the wrong colour.

"I had a dream about it, but I only came second," she said after beating world record holder Doramitzi Gonzalez of Mexico into third place.

Simmonds, who will be 14 in November and has Achondroplasia (dwarfism), broke her own British record in securing victory – and her best event is yet to come.

She is the world record holder in the S6 400m freestyle, which takes place on Sunday.

More gold could be heading Britain's way on day three with Kenny, McGlynn, Rik Waddon and Jody Cundy – another former Paralympic swimmer – all in action on the bike.