Australia has won its first gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics – and it came it style with swimmer Lakeisha Patterson breaking the world record in her 400m freestyle final (S8 category).
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The previous record holder, American Jessica Long finished second while Great Britain’s Stephanie Millward claimed the bronze medal.
It was a huge triumph for the Queenslander over the 12-time gold medallist. “I knew it was going to be tough, but I have come away with a silver”. “I just knew I needed to get to the wall and I needed to get there fast”, she told reporters after the race.
“Jess is an unbelievable person and a really great, fierce competitor”, Patterson said. I felt quite bad. “She’s achieved so much”.
“I did not think my first Games would end up like this”. “I knew I had to attack and go out hard and keep fighting for it, and I knew she was right behind me, so I just had to keep going forward”, said Patterson.
“I had to overcome some injuries to compete, so it is a good result”. We’ve also got a bronze in the Women’s 100m T53, with Angela Ballard coming third in that event also on Friday morning (Australian time).
Patterson has a jam packed schedule, competing in six different individual events at the Paralympics.
“I was super happy, (with my) qualifying ride I couldn’t have been happier and it’s really about setting yourself up for the gold-silver ride off”, Powell said.
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Patterson was one of four Aussie women who medalled on day-one of competition.
