The Dubliner picked up Ireland's first medal at the Paralympics in Tokyo, in the SB8 100 metres breaststroke.
President Michael D Higgins has described her as an "inspirational athlete".
Ellen set a new personal best, and says the time she achieved today means so much to her:
"I'm actually like a bit in disbelief because my goggles filled up for order so I didn't know where I was, I didn't know where Sophie was or the other girls beside me so to me it was just sticking to the game plan that me and my coach had, just being long and strong and that's what I focused on throughout the race and I just kind of gave it my all the last 25 and to see number one- it wasn't even the number one I was most excited about, it was more the time!"
