Tai, Clegg and 13-year-old Winnifrith were among eight British para swimmers gunning for medals in the final on day three at La Defense Arena.

Clegg made a great start in the pool by qualifying first in the S12 men’s 100m backstroke ahead of Azerbaijan’s Raman Salei. He will go for gold at 16:30 (BST).

Then it was Ellard who sprinted to the wall, finishing second in the men’s S14 200m freestyle. The 18-year-old claimed GB’s first medal in the pool with a silver in the men’s S14 100m butterfly on Thursday and will be looking to add to that in the final at 16:44 BST.

The 200m freestyle S14 is his strongest event, with a silver medal at the World Championships and a gold medal at the European Championships. He also equalled the world record.

There could be an all-British podium in the women’s S14 200m freestyle after Maskill, Fiddes and Newman-Baronius qualified as the fastest three. Maskill led the way after finishing in 2:10.36.

The 19-year-old will be joined in the middle lanes by Fiddes, the world bronze medallist with the second-fastest time, and Newman-Baronius, who will be hoping for a podium finish after finishing just outside the medals in the women’s 100m butterfly.

Seven-time world champion Tai is the favourite in the women’s S8 100m backstroke final. The 25-year-old finished three seconds clear of the field in the heats and could win her first individual Paralympic gold medal when she races again at 17:05 BST.

Winnifrith, the youngest member of the team, showed that age was no barrier in the women’s 200m individual medley at the SM7. The European gold medallist qualified seventh for the final which takes place at 19:10 BST.

Humphrey will be playing her second final in Paris after qualifying sixth in the women’s S11 50m freestyle. She was earlier sixth in the women’s S11 400m freestyle.