Dame Sarah Storey narrowly missed out on adding a 24th Paralympic medal to her record-breaking haul in the C4-5 time trial this afternoon, being pipped to the podium by teammate Kadeena Cox and Chinese pair Zhou Jufang and Ruan Jianping.
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A Paralympic cyclist has become the first British serviceman or woman injured in Iraq or Afghanistan to win a gold medal – almost a decade after losing his arm.
An accomplished sprinter before a stroke in May 2014 led to multiple sclerosis, she smashed the world record to win in 34.598 seconds. The Liverpudlian, alongside pilot Corrine Hall, surged ahead of New Zealand’s Emma Foy in the tandem three km pursuit to secure her win, while Sophie Thornhill and pilot Helen Scott took bronze.
Cox is scheduled to return to the athletics track in the T36-38 4x100m relay and T38 400m, while she is also entered in cycling’s road race on the penultimate day of the Games.
Speaking to broadcaster Channel 4 after the race, Cox said: “I’m over the moon”.
“I can’t sum it up, I can’t believe it, I’m so happy. Hats off, it’s been possible and she’s done a great job”.
So, too, is wheelchair racer Cockroft, who claimed her third Paralympic title and first of the Rio Games in a Paralympic record time of 17.42 seconds.
Butterworth claimed three silver medals at London 2012 and his gold as part of the team success was significant for British service personnel…
There was another track and field silver, for Toby Gold in the T33 100m.
Earlier, Andy Lewis took the gold in the PT2 triathlon and Sabrina Fortune took bronze in the F20 shot put.
“I thought that I was dreaming”.
This aim was boosted in the evening session by another three golds as swimmer Bethany Firth won the women’s 200m freestyle S14 final, Richard Whitehead defended his 200m T42 crown and Jo Butterfield took the F51 club throw. “The 100m is my favourite event – I have never been beaten over it and didn’t expect to be beaten over it”.
“When I came across that finish line, I held the tape in the air and wondered whether it was all real”.
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“I know those were a home Games but to be on the top step, you can’t beat that feeling and that’s the first time I have done it at a Paralympic Games”.
