Natasha Baker and Sophie Christiansen each claimed their third Paralympic Games dressage gold medals of Rio 2016 on another day of British success at the Rio Equestrian Centre on which Lee Pearson won an 11th Paralympic title.
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The 26-year old, who had to settle for silver in London four years ago, went one better this time as he raced to victory in a season’s best time of 54.49 seconds despite the rainy conditions, beating his main rival and old adversary, Ukraine’s Roman Pavlyk into second place by over a second.
Blake, who finished second in the event back in London 2012, was handed a tricky draw in lane eight for the final.
John Walker then won individual compound gold, to ensure Britain had won a gold medal in archery, as well as athletics, boccia, cycling, canoe, equestrian, rowing, swimming, triathlon, table tennis and wheelchair tennis. This is only the third time in Paralympics history the British team have reached the mark.
His victory was well received among the commentator’s in the studio at the stadium including Iwan Thomas, himself a silver Olympic 400m victor who was extremely complementary at the way he ran the race. Britain won gold medals in seven sports at London 2012.
“But this feels incredible”.
“When we crossed the line the German girl screamed as though she had got it and it wasn’t until I got to the pontoon that I realised I got first”.
At least Blake can now show off a gold medal to his father – consolation for him destroying one of the family’s most prized items as a kid.
Christiansen was similarly successful in the Grade Ia category as she and mount Athene Lindebjerg secured 79.800 points to secure an eighth Paralympic title.
“My dad was mortified and really angry with me”.
It followed his individual and team championship titles and took her total Paralympic tally to five following two victories at London 2012.
She added: “It does say “I’m away at the Paralympic Games”.
The 24-year-old wheelchair racer said: “To get three golds is absolutely ridiculous”.
Christiansen, who attended Charters School, said: “I’ve always want to do my best at everything I put my hand to – whether that’s academic work or sport”.
Rix van der Horst of The Netherlands took a distant silver today and bronze medal went to Steffen Ziebig of Germany.
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The 33-year-old from Leicester won gold in Athens in 2004, plus silvers in his first Games, Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
