Sports
Alice Tai gold caps off brilliant night for Great Britain in the pool
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Great Britain won three golds, one silver and a bronze to overtake China at the top of the Para-swimming medal table on day three of the Paris Games.
Stephen Clegg, William Ellard and Alice Tai won a hat-trick of golds in 40 minutes at La Defense Arena on a dominant night to kick start a medal rush for Great Britain in the pool.
Clegg and Ellard both set world record times in the men’s S12 100m backstroke and S14 200m freestyle respectively to claim their maiden individual Paralympic titles.
Tai, competing for the first time on the Paralympic stage since having her club foot amputated two and half years ago, obliterated the field in the women’s S8 100m backstroke to also be crowned a Paralympic champion for the first time.
The seven-time world champion was a nailed-on favourite to top the podium despite having to completely re-learn her stroke after electing to become an amputee.
“The last three years have been kind of crazy,” said Tai. “I’ve had six surgeries on three different limbs over the course of like two and a half years, and a lot’s happened in my personal life. So just being here, I feel like I’ve really made myself proud and made everyone supporting me proud.”
Clegg produced a ruthless performance to break a 12-year-old record in 59.02 as he upgraded the bronze he won at Tokyo 2020 before it was Ellard’s turn to produce a record-breaking swim in 1:51.30.
The 18-year-old was visibly emotional as punched the water after the race, before revealing his main source of inspiration to had been his late nan.
“My nan died about four years ago,” he said. “She was my biggest supporter. When I was swimming, the last message she sent to me on WhatsApp was, ‘See you in Paris 2024.’ That’s the last thing she said to me. I know she’ll be up there somewhere watching me.”
Elsewhere, Poppy Maskill and Louise Fiddes claimed silver and bronze in the women’s S14 200m freestyle. Britain lead the para swimming medal table with seven golds, three silvers and one bronze with seven days of action remaining.
Day three at the Paris Paralympics – as it happened
09:22 PM BST
GB won 10 medals on day three
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Amy Truesdale claimed a dramatic gold in the women’s K44 +65kg before team-mate Matt Bush also took gold in the men’s K44 +80kg gold medal match, taking GB’s overall tally to 11 golds in the French capital.
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In the pool three golds were won. Alice Tai dominated the women’s S8 100m backstroke final, after Stephen Clegg took the S12 men’s 100m backstroke title in a world record time and Will Ellard triumphed in the S14 men’s 200m freestyle, also with a world record.
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Poppy Maskill won S14 women’s 200m freestyle silver ahead of bronze medal-winning team-mate Louise Fiddes.
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British cyclist Archie Atkinson suffered heartbreak as he fell when almost certain to win gold in the men’s C4 4,000m individual pursuit final.
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Billy Shilton and Paul Karabardak won Para-table tennis bronze in the men’s doubles MD14.
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Jodie Grinham, who is seven months pregnant, defeated defending champion Phoebe Paterson Pine in the Para-archery women’s individual compound open bronze medal match.
09:06 PM BST
Amy Truesdale speaks to Channel 4 – ‘I think I need to cry for 20 minutes’
On winning gold…
“I don’t think it’s sunk in, I was like ‘I don’t know what to do as a celebration’ but for me it’s the last medal I need to complete my para-taekwondo career. I’m Paralympic champion, I’ve made history, I’m the first person to do it and I’m so grateful for the support and I think I just need to cry on my own for 20 minutes after the medal ceremony.”
On the day…
“Three hard fights today, people who know me, who know me after Tokyo, the hardest fight is the one I have every day in my mind but I smashed that today. I’m grateful that’s the fight that I won.”
On her tactics…
“For me, it was just like I needed to be present and focus on my game plan, that was my targets for the day, which I’ve done. I feel like I actually need to look at the crowd, I was so focused on getting to the mat, I’ve not really like experienced, I didn’t want that as a distraction, I just wanted to be on and then enjoy the atmosphere afterwards. I can’t believe it!”
08:58 PM BST
Matt Bush wins gold!
He dominated from the start and beat Aliaskhab Ramazanov with a 5-0 win.
That’s ParalympicsGB’s second Para-taekwondo gold medal inside 15 minutes. Impressive.
08:55 PM BST
Bush is in a strong position
He’s 5-0 up with one minute 35 seconds left.
08:50 PM BST
Bush takes a lead
He leads 3-0 early on.
08:48 PM BST
Matt Bush up next in the…
…men’s K44 +80kg final. The Briton is facing Aliaskhab Ramazanov of the Neutral Paralympic Athletes.
Can he cap off a fine day for GB?
08:38 PM BST
Right decision for Truesdale
Amy Truesdale wins gold. Right decision for me. It was not an intentional kick which damaged her opponent, carried out on a stretcher. Gold No 1 at taekwondo.
08:37 PM BST
Amy Truesdale wins gold
But it’s not without a bit of controversy. The Briton accidently kicked Guljonoy Naimova in the face and is unable to continue. Truesdale was only shown a yellow card. Had it been red Truesdale would have lost.
08:30 PM BST
Truesdale take early lead
At the halfway stage she’s 8-1 ahead.
08:24 PM BST
Amy Truesdale is going for gold
In the women’s K44 taekwondo +65kg final.
She’s up against Uzbekistan’s Guljonoy Naimova.
Amy won a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 as Para-taekwondo made its debut at the Games. She was born without a left hand or forearm and has been a competitor in the sport since 2009.
“People always say they’ll cross from taekwondo to pro MMA, but we wouldn’t last two minutes… but I’d have a White Collar boxing match,” she told me. This is No 1 vs No 2 seed, the Chester fighter No 2. Amy is the current world champion. First of two Brits in finals. Matt Bush to come.
08:12 PM BST
GB are through to semi-finals of wheelchair rugby
That’s thanks to beating hosts France in a tight contest 50-49. They were undefeated in the pool stages and are looking very good for a medal.
08:05 PM BST
David Weir speaks to Channel 4 – ‘Pick myself off for the 1500m’
On the race…
“I was in a prime position but the guys at the back were getting a better ride. I was just keeping calm…”
On the plan for the rest of the Games…
“Day off tomorrow then pick myself up for the 1500m.”
08:03 PM BST
Here’s how the men’s T38 100m was won
07:57 PM BST
Daniel Romanchuk wins the men’s 5,000m T54 final
Hug finished second with Kuwaiti Faisal Alrajehi in third.
The years caught up with Weir as he finished in eighth.
07:55 PM BST
They are starting to bunch up
Any of five-six can win it with a lap to go.
07:54 PM BST
Weir in third after 4000m
A kilometre to go and Hug still leads, but it’s very close.
07:50 PM BST
It’s slow at the moment
It looks as though it will be a tight finish, Hug is doing all the work at the front.
07:48 PM BST
Hug still leads
But Weir is covering his every move.
07:46 PM BST
As expected Hug
Is off to a good start and leads with 11 laps to go. Weir is in third.
07:45 PM BST
They’re under way in the men’s 5,000m T54 final
Weir hasn’t made the podium in 12 years – can he change that tonight? We’re about to find out…
07:39 PM BST
Marcel Hug is the favourite for the 5,000m T54 final
The Swiss is defending champion and is the man Weir will have to beat is he is to get gold tonight.
Hug on Weir…
“He is clever in tactics and knows what to do.”
Hug on what advantage he has over Weir…
“I am a little bit younger!”
07:34 PM BST
Nearly time for David Weir
The Weirwolf is in the final of the men’s 5,000m T54 final.
Can he get GB’s first medal on the track?
07:29 PM BST
Bronze for Jodie Grinham
The Briton has beaten her compatriot Phoebe Paterson Pine 142-141 in the third-place match in Para-archery.
07:25 PM BST
Hahn and Down both miss out on a medal
Not only that but Hahn’s world record has also gone.
Gold has gone to Colombia’s Karen Palomeque 12.26secs. Greece’s Lida Manthopolou wins silver and it’s bronze for Colombian world champion Darian Jiminez.
Hahn finished down in sixth in 12.88secs, and Down was eighth in 13.02secs.
07:20 PM BST
Sophie Hahn is in the T38 women’s 100m final
She’s the world record holder and is favourite for the gold. Also in the final is GB’s Maddie Down.
07:18 PM BST
Great Briton will win bronze in the Para-archery
That’s because Phoebe Paterson Pine has lost her semi-final to Iran’s Fatemeh Hemmati. The Briton was defeated 146-143 and win now face compatriot Jodie Grinham in the bronze-medal match.
07:03 PM BST
Jodie Grinham beaten in the semi-finals
The British archer lost 145-143 to Turkey’s Oznur Cure Girdi.
Cure Girdi dominated from the start, and led after every end to secure her place in the gold-medal match.
Grinham, who is seven months pregnant, will now battle for bronze.
GB’s Phoebe Paterson Pine is currently facing Iran’s Fatemeh Hemmati, for the last remaining spot in the final.
06:54 PM BST
That interview hinted at it
But we are now seeing Thomas Young in tears. Not good to see.
06:53 PM BST
How Alice Tai won gold
06:52 PM BST
Thomas Young on missing out on a medal – ‘I am absolutely gutted’
On the result…
“I am gutted. I am going to go away and work hard in the winter and come back stronger next year. My legs sort of cramped in the warm up but no excuses.”
On his emotions…
“It just wasn’t to be on the night. I have been quicker than that all season, so I am absolutely gutted…I feel like I have let people down.”
On how he views the result…
“Tonight is the lowest point of my career.”
06:45 PM BST
Prize fighters
06:40 PM BST
Jaydin Blackwell wins gold for the US
The American dominated from the start of the men’s 100m T38 final, winning by a clear distance, in clocking 10.64 seconds, a new world record, to win.
Fellow American Ryan Medrano wins the silver and bronze goes to Colombia’s Juan Alejandro Campas Sanchez.
Defending champion Thomas Young of GB, just missed on on the podium finishing in fourth, just 0.01 seconds behind Colombian.
06:34 PM BST
Time for the men’s 100m T38 final
Tokyo champion Thomas Young goes for GB…can he secure back-to-back titles? We’re about to find out…
06:32 PM BST
GB guaranteed a medal in the Para-archery
Phoebe Paterson Pine wrapped up her quarter-final against Chile’s Mariana Vargas, winning 143-138.
The reigning champion joins team-mate Jodie Grinham in the semi-finals, meaning GB will get at least one medal.
06:31 PM BST
Fighting for gold
I have just arrived at the Grand Palais in time to see and speak with Matt Bush after he reached the final of the men’s K44 Para taekwondo +80kg. Beautiful brutality -it’s stunning in here. Bush beat Iran’s Hamed Haghshenas, the No 1 seed.
“I’m an animal performing in a cultured setting – we are normally used to gyms, leisure centres so to be here at one of the greatest venues ever at the Paralympics is amazing.” Bush – who likes to joke that he lost his arm “in a shark attack” but then will always tell you that he was born thus – is one of the great characters in the team. Also right now, Amy Truesdale has just beaten Fernanda Vargas of Mexico in the semi-final and goes for gold later.
I’ll be here reporting on the fights – all very familiar to me, of course – for the rest of the evening. Go GB. Guaranteed two silvers, but we want gold.
06:15 PM BST
Phoebe Paterson Pine is on fire
She now leads 59-52 after two ends. It’s a dream start for the Briton and it will take a miracle for Mariana Zuniga to come back into this quarter-final.
06:11 PM BST
Phoebe Paterson Pine leads early on
In her archery quarter-final.
The Briton is 29-26 up against Chile’s Mariana Zuniga, after the first end.
A three-point lead already could prove decisive.
06:10 PM BST
Alice Tai on her amazing journey to golden glory
There is no way you cannot love Alice Tai. She beamed as she walked out into La Defense Arena before making herself laugh because she tried to take her puffa coat off without unzipping it. She then dived into the pool and effortlessly obliterated the field to win her first individual Paralympic gold in the women’s S8 100m backstroke – and the first medal on the Paralympic stage since having her club foot amputated.
“The last three years have been kind of crazy,” she said. “I’ve had six surgeries on three different limbs over the course of like two and a half years, and a lot’s happened in my personal life. So just being here, I feel like I’ve really made myself proud and made everyone supporting me proud.”
She also explained how she had to completely relearn to swim following her amputation, which changed her strokes.
“It’s been two and a bit years since my amputation and I feel now that my stroke itself is balanced,” she said. “We’re still working on my backstroke start. We literally trialled a new one about five days ago in training. So there’s definitely a little bit of time that can be won there. So hopefully I’ll go 1:08 next season. I’d love to do that. But yeah, it was just a bit of a journey rebalancing my stroke. My starts and turns are still kind of affected. I feel like the actual swim is pretty solid now. So I’m happy. I feel like I’m 80 per cent of the way there.”
06:02 PM BST
Matt Bush is into the final
Of the men’s K44 Para Taekwondo +80kg.
The Briton has just beaten Iran’s Hamed Haghshenas.
05:53 PM BST
A golden room
It’s been a medal rush for Great Britain in the pool, who currently top the para-swimming medal table with seven golds, three silvers and one bronze, ahead of China in second place.
Turns out Will Ellard’s room-mate in the athlete village is Stephen Clegg. Both have just won their first individual Paralympic golds in world record times. You can bet the pair will be bouncing off the walls this evening.
Ellard watched Clegg’s race from the call room and while it would have given him confidence for his own final he revealed his main source of inspiration had been his late grandmother, Sue Tipple. Emotion was writ large across his face in the mixed zone as he spoke about how she had been his inspiration for winning gold in the S14 200m freestyle.
“My nan died about four years ago,” he said. “She was my biggest supporter. When I was swimming, the last message she sent to me on WhatsApp was, ‘See you in Paris 2024.’ When I last went round her house before she died all my medals up when she was still alive. My grandad would be watching at home too. That’s the last thing she said to me. I know she’ll be up there somewhere watching me. It hasn’t quite hit me yet how much it means to me and my family.
“She was quite into gardening and she got me into it. When I do it, I think about her all the time. She always asked me about my swimming which showed how much she cared about it. She just meant so much. Hopefully I’ll do well tomorrow, the rest of the week and many more years to come.
When asked if he’d celebrate by having a drink, Ellard innocently replied: “Not quite yet, I’ve only just turned 18. Stephen is racing on the last day so hopefully we’ll have a couple of days at the end to go out and celebrate if the team lets us.”
05:44 PM BST
Jodie Grinham speaks
“For one shot, I couldn’t draw up my arrow because the baby was kicking so much.
“I just rubbed my belly and said ‘I know you are supporting me but we just need a minute’.
“But it is a really nice thing and a lovely feeling and a reminder of actually the wider picture of why I am here and what I do. I enjoyed it.”
05:43 PM BST
Jodie Grinham is through
Can Phoebe Paterson Pine join her in the last-four of the Para-archery? She’s next up against the Czech Republic’s Mariana Zuniga.
05:37 PM BST
Gold-medal winner Stephen Clegg speaks – ‘It would have been nice to go under 59 seconds’
Stephen Clegg on breaking a 12-year-old record in the 100m men’s backstroke S12:
“I was not too close to it back in March. The target was definitely to try and get close to it if not break through it. It’s a very special thing when you can win gold medals for the first time. I didn’t know I was on world record pace. I could see myself pulling away from the rest so I had a feeling. It would have been nice to have jumped inside 59 [seconds] but maybe next time.”
On upgrading his silver medal from Tokyo:
“I’ve got the monkey off my back. The target is still to win the fly at the end of the week. Three years have been spent revising this sport and rediscovering my love for this sport. Now I can almost be grateful for that second place in Tokyo. But if I hadn’t finished second I might not be here today.
“I’m 28 years old. A lot of people start to tail off at my age. I’m still getting better, I’ve dropped a second on the backstroke this year and I think I can drop another.”
On the sibling rivalry with his para-athlete T11 running sister, Libby Clegg:
“Me and my sister had a chat before I came out here. I think she’s got six, I’ve got two more events and I’m on four. We might have to go down to gold medals.”
05:31 PM BST
Grinham is through to the last-four
The Briton has beaten Brazil’s Jane Carla Gogel 143-141.
She’ll now definitely have a chance to shoot for a medal.
05:27 PM BST
Jodie Grinham in front in her archery quarter-final
The Briton leads Brazil’s Jane Carla Gogel 84-83 after three (of five) ends.
05:24 PM BST
Terrific Tai
The Briton had a three and a half second lead at the 50m-mark. And she nearly doubled that by the end. She didn’t break the Paralympic record she absolutely smashed it, taking four seconds off the previous mark.
Viktoriia Ischulova of the Neutral Paralympic Athletes took the silver, bronze went to Germany’s Mira Jeanne Maack.
05:15 PM BST
Tai wins gold!
She dominated, as expected, and led from the start. It’s a Paralympic record!
05:11 PM BST
At the halfway mark
Tai is leading! And by some distance.
05:09 PM BST
Tai is the overwhelming favourite
She dominated the heats and should claim gold…
05:07 PM BST
Alice Tai is now up
In the women’s S8 100m backstroke final.
Here’s a great read on the brilliant swimmer.
READ: Alice Tai exclusive interview: ‘I’m proud to have had my leg amputated’
05:01 PM BST
Silver for Maskill! Bronze for Fiddes!
Gold was won by the dominant Shabalina.
Another fine race in the pool for Great Briton.
In three races there have been…
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Two golds
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Two world records
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A silver
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A bronze
04:56 PM BST
At the halfway point she is…
…in third. All three of the Britons are all in contention at halfway, but the neutral athlete Valeriia Shabalina is looking good.
04:56 PM BST
Poppy Maskill is now in the
Women’s S14 200m freestyle. Maskill is joined in the final by Olivia Newman-Baronius and Louise Fiddes.
04:51 PM BST
Yes, he can! Gold for Will Ellard!
He showed real strength in that final 50m and won in a world record time. He smashes the record by over a second – the new mark is 1min 51.30 secs. Brilliant.
Nicholas Bennett of Canada, over two seconds behind Ellard, took the silver. Jack Ireland of Australia won the bronze.
04:49 PM BST
Ellard leads after 150m
He’s being chased by Canada’s Bennett, can the Briton hold on?
04:48 PM BST
Ellard is off to a good start
And is first after the first 50 metres.
04:46 PM BST
Will Ellard is next in the pool
In the men’s S14 200m freestyle. He’s got a great chance of getting gold here…
04:45 PM BST
Defending champion Phoebe Paterson Pine – I have exceeded my expectations of myself
Is into the last-eight in the Para-archery thanks to herdefeat of Australia’s Melissa-Anne Tanner. Here’s what she had to say afterwards.
“It was a close match. These ladies are shooting the lights out but I’m happy with how I held my nerve and kept myself together,
“I think I have exceeded my expectations of myself going into this. It’s very easy to think ‘I’m Paralympic champion’ and put pressure on myself but I’m into the quarter-finals and I will be top eight at a Paralympics again and I can’t ask for more.
“I’m super-happy with how I shot and with my process.
“I will sit in the athletes lounge and chill out now but keep warmed up and ready for the next round.”
Paterson Pine faces either Mariana Zuniga of Chile or Sheetal Devi of India at 5:37
04:38 PM BST
It was one of his ‘weaker’ events
Impressive from the Briton.
04:37 PM BST
World record and GOLD for Stephen Clegg!
No one could touch him in the men’s S12 100m backstroke. He led at halfway and there was clear water between him and the rest of the field. The new world record is 59.02secs. Wow!
Azerbaijan’s Raman Salei takes the silver, more than a second and a half behind Clegg. Bronze goes to Ukraine’s Yaroslav Denysenko.
04:21 PM BST
GB beat Canada 88-58
In their group match. They are looking good for a spot in the quarter-finals.
04:14 PM BST
As with Grinham Paterson Pine is into the quarters
She came from behind to beat Australian Melissa-Anne Tanner 140-136.
04:09 PM BST
‘The fall makes me want to fight’
Great agony for Archie Atkinson who has spoken after his agonising crash just seconds from the end of the men’s C4 4000m individual pursuit gold medal match. He was five seconds ahead against defending champion Slovakia’s Jozek Metelka when he fell.
Here’s what he had to say, having seen gold snatched away in the most dramatic of circumstances…
On the fall…
“I think I’m okay. My body is all in one piece. I dug as deep as I’ve ever dug. I just sort of ran out of energy and went down.”
On how he feels…
“I think what has happened today has made me more angry and made me want to fight. I just want to show everyone what I can do.”
Twice now, through Atkinson, and women’s sprint favourite Kadeena Cox on the opening day, GB have missed out on gold due to crashes.
“I was the favourite. Maybe the pressure got to me a bit. Maybe I let it go to my head. And that could have played a part. I cannot not be disappointed. I will reset and refocus for the road. I could see him, I tried to catch him. It was working, working and then, bang. One lap to go. I tried to push on. Then just, bang.”
Metelka, the Slovakian also admitted that he felt “very, very lucky” and that something was looking down on him. He joked: “This happened last probably when the T-rex was around, I feel massively lucky, like you can’t even comprehend. The luck is like from here to the Eiffel Tower and back, it’s just indescribable.”
04:04 PM BST
After four ends
There’s been a turnaround in the archery – Paterson Pine now has a three-point lead. 111-108. From being down she’s now looking comfortable. She’s grown into the match and id looking more confident with every end.
04:02 PM BST
After three ends
Phoebe Paterson Pine is now level with Melissa-Anne Tanner at 82 apiece.
Just six arrows to go.
03:53 PM BST
Phoebe Paterson Pine
Is in the Para-archery last-16 facing Australia’s Melissa-Anne Tanner.
After the first of five ends the Briton is down by a point, 28-27.
03:34 PM BST
Grinham holds her nerve
And is into the quarters. That’s thanks to a perfect score of 30 in the final end. Markitantova had leveled at 112-all after four ends but not even a score of 29 in the fifth end was good enough to beat the Briton, thanks to Grinham’s perfection.
03:28 PM BST
After four ends (of five)
It’s 112-112 in the archery last-16 match between Grinham and Markitantova.
Squeaky-bum time at Esplanade Des Invalides.
03:22 PM BST
Look away now to avoid agony
Here’s how Atkinson fell and missed out on gold.
03:19 PM BST
After three ends in the archery
Jodie Grinham has a narrow 57-55 lead over Poland’s Kseniya Markitantova.
03:12 PM BST
Jodie Grinham goes in the Para-archery
Against Kseniya Markitantova in the last-16.
The Briton is a remarkable athlete in more ways than one. Here’s a good read explaining why…
READ: Jodie Grinham: The 28 weeks pregnant archer who will compete at Paralympics
02:57 PM BST
More Para-taekwondo medal hopes
News from the Palais des Beaux Artes – Amy Truesdale in K44 +65kg and and Matt Bush in K44 +80kg in Para-taekwondo
As I’ve said it’s the most extraordinary venue for beautiful brutality.
Matt and Amy are both safely through to the semi-finals, so are guaranteed to fight for a medal later. Matt will fight his last-four contest at 5:26 and Amy at 5:48, UK time.
02:53 PM BST
More good news
As Amy Truesdale is in to the last four of the women’s K44 +65kg Para-taekwondo. The Briton booked her place in the semi-final thanks to a 30-9 victory over Morocco’s Rajae Akermach.
She’ll face Mexico’s Fernanda Vargas in the last-four showdown this evening.
02:43 PM BST
Andy Lapthorne beats Diego Perez in the wheelchair tennis
The Briton is through to the last-eight thanks to a straight sets 6-4, 6-3 win over the Chilean world No.12.
Lapthorne has three Paralympic medals, with a silver in this event at Rio de Janeiro, and a London silver and Rio bronze in the quad doubles.
02:33 PM BST
He will be back
02:21 PM BST
Agony for Atkinson
Heartbreak. Terrible drama… Archie Atkinson dominated the men’s C4 4000m individual pursuit gold medal final until just over 3000m against former champion Slovakia’s Jozek Metelka, but suffered a fall in the final kilometre. Disaster.
So it’s silver not gold at the velodrome for this powerful GB para cycling team.
Nonetheless, what a story from the 20-year-old Atkinson… the youngest member of the Great British para cycling podium programme. Cheshire’s Atkinson had his very first experience of riding on a track aged 10, under the tutelage of multiple world and Olympic champion, Sir Chris Hoy. Atkinson has cerebral palsy, a number of neurological conditions and is autistic. I’m off to speak to the champion now…. standby…
02:15 PM BST
Heartbreak for Atkinson after shock fall
It is heartbreak for Archie Atkinson in the men’s C4 4000m individual pursuit gold medal match after he crashed and fell in one of his final laps of the race.
A shock result. Slovakia’s Metelka was not expecting to win that – in fact, nobody was – with Atkinson dominating the final and leading his opponent until his fall.
Absolutely devastating for the young British para cyclist.
02:07 PM BST
Youth vs experience in gold medal final
In his first Games, Archie Atkinson is about to race defending Paralympic champion, Slovakia’s Jozef Metelka, in the men’s C4 4000m individual pursuit gold medal match.
GB’s Atkinson took the world record from Metelka this morning and completed his qualifying race in an impressive time of 4:17.700.
Now, as he faces Metelka, a double Paralympic champion, he will need to build on his performance of this morning… No pressure.
02:05 PM BST
French youngster beats team mate to bronze
In an all-French para cycling bronze medal race, Gatien le Rousseau has beaten senior team mate Kevin le Cunff by over four seconds.
The 21-year-old bettered his qualifying time and completed the men’s C4 4000m individual pursuit race in a time of 4:24.096.
Now, attention turns to the gold medal match and to GB Paralympics debutant, Archie Atkinson…
01:54 PM BST
Back to the Velodrome…
After a sensational performance this morning saw Archie Atkinson break the world record, he is about to race in the men’s C4 4000m individual pursuit gold medal final, against former champion, Slovakia’s Jozek Metelka.
The bronze medal hopefuls will race first, with French team mates Kevin le Cunff and Gatien le Rousseau about to go head to head.
This is going to be tense.
01:48 PM BST
Another strong performance on the basketball court
01:41 PM BST
French flags out in full force
01:41 PM BST
‘The factoring system needs a bit of work’
Speaking to Channel 4 after his final race, Jaco van Gass was asked how he could break a world record twice in one day, and yet not come away with a medal.
In response, he said: “It’s heartbreaking to be very honest. It’s just the factoring system – I was the only C3 in the final heat out of six, and to ride a world record time and not even win a medal shows the factoring system needs a bit of work.
“A shout out to the UCI, maybe they need to look into that.”
01:37 PM BST
“The flying moustache’s” family show their support
Our man Blaine Hunt is out and with his family after failing to qualify for the men’s 4000m individual pursuit final… many moustaches being touted in the group.
He is a reserve for the team sprint tomorrow and road racing on September 4 to 6.
Here’s Blaine’s wife Leona with some of the crew supporting the man…
01:32 PM BST
GB’s van Gass finishes in fourth
Jaco van Gass has finished in fourth place in the men’s C1 to C3 1000m time trial final.
China’s Li Zhangyu has defended his title in the race for a fourth Games, after speeding around the track with an impressive final time of 1:03.480.
Despite not clinching a podium spot, van Gass still has a lot to feel proud of after setting a new world record in the men’s C3 category twice over the course of the day.
China’s Liang Weicong finished second, and France’s Alexandre Leaute clinched bronze.
01:27 PM BST
China’s Li Zhangyu the last to race
GB’s Jaco van Gass has been pushed into the bronze medal position after France’s Alexandre Leaute completed the 1000m time trial in 1:04.207.
He was cheered around the Velodrome by a lively home crowd, but was disappointed to finish in second place, completing the trial just milliseconds slower than China’s Liang Weicong.
Now, Chinese team mate, and defending champion, Li Zhangyu is last to compete on the track…
01:21 PM BST
Brit para cyclist pushed into second
China’s Liang Weicong has pushed Jaco van Gass into second place in the men’s C1 to C3 1000m time trial final after he completed four laps of the Velodrome in a time of 1:04.103.
There are two racers left to compete… France’s Alexandre Leaute is up next. The Velodrome is about to get loud.
01:17 PM BST
Another world record for van Gass!
An excellent performance from Jaco van Gass sees him set (another) new world record time in the men’s C3 1000m time trial.
He smashed the record for the C3 category which he had set just hours before in this morning’s qualifier and raced around the Velodrome track in a time of 1:04.825.
Stunning work from the Brit – he shoots to the top of the leaderboard in the men’s C1 to C3 1000m time trial final, with three more competitors to race.
01:14 PM BST
van Gass is up…
Australian racer Gordon Allan races to the top of the leaderboard with a time of 1:05.964.
Jaco van Gass is next to ride…
01:13 PM BST
van Gass only C3 competitor in final
Para cyclists with limb deficiency, impaired muscle power or range of motion, and impairments affecting co-ordination – who are able to use a standard bicycle – compete in five sport classes from C1 to C5.
C1 athletes have the most severe activity limitation and this is reflected in their final factored time, while those in the C5 classification have the most minimum impairments.
Jaco van Gass is the only C3 para cyclist in this final and will received no deduction on his final time.
Meanwhile, his competitors all compete in C1 and C2 classifications which mean their times are factored from 92 per cent to 94 per cent of their final times.
01:06 PM BST
This is it…
Jaco van Gass is about to take to the Velodrome track in the men’s C1 to C3 1000m time trial final.
Japan’s Shota Kawamoto is first to race and sets the early benchmark time to beat. He completed four laps in 1:07.659.
Australia’s Gordon Allan is up next.
01:00 PM BST
GB wheelchair basketball team in control
A dominant display from the GB men’s wheelchair basketball team as they lead Canada 64-42 after three quarters.
If they can maintain their lead for the final quarter, it will be two wins from two from the men’s team.
12:54 PM BST
Two more GB medal hopefuls on the track
GB’s Sophie Hahn and Maddie Down have qualified for the women’s T38 100m final which will take place this evening.
Hahn, the current world and Paralympic record holder, finished second in her heat, with a time of 12:52 – just 0.14 seconds off her best.
Meanwhile, in heat 1, Down completed the race in a time of 12:93.
Both will compete in the final on the Stade De France track at around 7:10pm BST.
12:21 PM BST
British interest in para taekwondo quarter finals
Two GB competitors are about to take to the ring in the para taekwondo quarter finals at the renowned Grand Palais.
First up, Matt Bush will face Senegal’s Idrissa Keita in the men’s K44 +80kg contest at around 12:30pm BST.
Then, Amy Truesdale will face Morocco’s Rajae Akermach at around 1:20pm in the women’s K44 +65kg contest.
Both athletes compete in the K44 classification which is for athletes with a unilateral arm amputation, an equivalent loss of function, or loss of toes which impacts the ability to lift the heel properly.
12:17 PM BST
Sensational from Atkinson in his debut Games
12:09 PM BST
Smith continues Boccia dominance
David Smith, Britain’s most successful Boccia player of all time, is in action against The Netherlands’ Daniel Perez in a preliminary game this morning.
The Brit is currently in control and leads his opponent 2-0.
He won his first game on Thursday after a level-headed performance saw him beat Brazilian opponent Jose Oliveira 5-2.
Paris 2024 is Smith’s fifth Paralympics. He has won five medals across his four previous Games and will hope to continue this impressive streak in the French capital.
12:03 PM BST
GB men take to the basketball court
In a repeat of this morning’s women’s fixture, the GB men’s wheelchair basketball team have taken to the court against Canada as they compete for a place in the quarter final.
Very early into the first quarter, the ParalympicsGB side are firmly in control and the score is 17-8.
11:58 AM BST
Coming up…
All eyes will be on the Velodrome this afternoon, as Jaco van Gass attempts to add a second gold medal to his 2024 Games roster. He will race in the men’s C1 to C3 1000m time trial final just after 1:00pm BST. Then, new world-record holder Archie Atkinson will race in the men’s C4 4000m individual pursuit final against former champion, Slovakia’s Jozek Metelka.
After that, attention turns to the pool where GB para swimmers including Will Ellard, Poppy Maskill, Alice Tai and Scarlett Humphrey will go for gold in a range of finals. Tune in from 4:30pm for all the action.
There are more chances for medals on the track from 6:25pm onwards, with GB hopefuls including Thomas Young in the men’s T38 100m final and David Weir in the men’s T54 5000m final.
The day comes to a dramatic close on the rugby pitch as GB’s wheelchair rugby team, defending Paralympic champions, take on France at the Champs De Mar Arena. It is sure to be a lively one – follow along from 6:30pm as we bring you all the latest updates.
11:45 AM BST
Table tennis duo secure GB’s first medal of day three
Paul Karabardak and Billy Shilton have won GB’s first medal of the day after being beaten in the MD14 men’s doubles table tennis semi final.
They were defeated 3-0 by Thai duo Rungroj Thainiyom and Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri, meaning they finished in third place in the category.
A great effort from the duo and another medal for the GB tally!
11:38 AM BST
Canada defeat GB in women’s wheelchair basketball
The GB women’s wheelchair basketball team suffered defeat in their second preliminary match against Canada.
The side were close to a comeback in the final quarter, but could not break through a strong Canadian side, with the final score being 54-63.
They will play China at 3:00pm BST tomorrow as they attempt to secure a place in the quarter finals.
11:30 AM BST
Hunt continues strong GB para cycling form
Blaine Hunt completed the men’s C5 4000m individual pursuit qualifier in an impressive time of 4:23.961, putting him in second place on the leaderboard with six para cyclists left to race in the heats.
If his time remains the second quickest, he will compete in the gold medal final this afternoon.
If he drops into third or fourth place, he will race in the bronze medal competition later on today.
Stay tuned…
11:21 AM BST
Nuttall: ‘Proud I made it here after really tough nine months’
Luke Nuttall vowed to take pride from performance in the men’s 1500m T46 final after an emotional season blighted by family tragedy.
The 22-year-old’s father, John Nuttall, the British Olympic long-distance runner and coach, passed away aged 56 after a heart attack last November.
Nuttall ran a season’s best of 3:57:62 to finish seventh in a quick field and revealed his late dad had been his inspiration to make the start line after an injury nearly ended his dream of competing in the French capital.
“I’ll be proud I got here, my Dad passed away nine months ago and it’s been really tough since that but he’s been my motivation,” said Nuttall, who suffered a stress fracture in his femur last April.
“I missed two months of running, I didn’t start running till June and after four weeks of training I did my race to qualify for here,” he said.
“At that point it wasn’t looking realistic so after all I have to be happy I got here. It’s been tough.
“It’s hard to process it after such a big race without being too overly emotional. I think I am going to be frustrated because I feel like I was capable of running a time to get a medal.
Those races are such a blur but it was a bit scrappy and I felt like I was playing catch up.”
At 22, the Preston runner still has some of his best years ahead of him and he vowed to use an adrenaline-fuelled atmosphere inside the Stade de France to challenge for a medal in Los Angeles in 2028.
“That’s the first time I’ve run in front of a crowd like that. You don’t get experience like this as a Paralympic athlete and it’s hard to put a value on how good it was to get comfortable in a setting like this,” he said. “I’ll be 26 in LA, I feel I’m ready to medal and by then I’ll be pushing for gold. This has given me a lot of motivation.”
11:15 AM BST
Big support for GB’s Hunt in Velodrome
Back at the Velodrome this morning with so much action to come… It’s tipping it down outside, but that has done nothing to quell the heat inside of this magnificent cycling piste.
Just had coffee with Mike and Fiona – parents-in-law of the famously moustached Blaine Hunt.
With a silver under his belt already, the family are here in force today, driving their man on to a gold.
Great story of course… rugby injury at 16, played county level, multiple operations, tried skiing, then moved to cycling… et voila.
10:56 AM BST
Atkinson smashes 4000m world record
20-year-old Archie Atkinson has qualified for the men’s C4 4000m individual pursuit and smashed the world record after a nail-biting race against defending champion, Slovakia’s Jozef Metelka.
In his debut Games, GB’s Atkinson raced around the Velodrome track in a time of 4:17.700, lowering the record by a whole five seconds.
He will face Metelka again in the gold medal race which will take place this afternoon at around 1:50pm BST.
An incredible performance from the young para cyclist.
10:45 AM BST
GB trail Canada in wheelchair basketball
ParalympicsGB’s women’s wheelchair basketball team are currently struggling against a strong Canadian side.
They are trailing with a score of 28 to Canada’s 42.
With five minutes left in the third quarter, and then a final quarter to be played, a big comeback is needed from the British side…
10:31 AM BST
Season-best effort from GB’s Nuttall
Luke Nuttall completed the men’s T46 1500m final in 3:57.62 – a season-best performance which saw him finish in seventh place.
Neutral athlete Aleksandr Iaremchuk clinched gold with a time of 3:50.24, Australia’s Michael Roeger came second, while France’s Antoine Praud finished in third place.
10:28 AM BST
Unstoppable van Gass
10:16 AM BST
Heartbreak for Rainbow-Cooper
GB’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper suffered a collision in the women’s T54 5000m final which put an end to her first hopes of Paralympic gold after she was unable to finish the race.
She tumbled to the ground after a collision with a fellow rider around 15 seconds into the race, which was then re-started, and showed great determination in attempting to compete again.
However, after a great effort, unfortunately Rainbow-Cooper was unable to complete the 5000m distance.
Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner won gold and set a new Paralympic record with a time of 10:43.62, the USA’s Susannah Scaroni finished in second place, while New Zealand’s Madison de Rozario clinched bronze.
Rainbow-Cooper will have a second chance at gold on Monday, when she competes in the women’s T54 1500m.
09:58 AM BST
GB’s van Gass strikes again
Jaco van Gass has continued to excel on the Velodrome track as he completed four laps in 1:05.083, setting a new world and Paralympic record for the C3 category.
He qualified overall in fourth place, guaranteeing him a spot in this afternoon’s C1-3 1000m time trial final.
He will race against the five other quickest qualifiers from this morning’s event, including the C1 world and Paralympic record holder, China’s Li Zhangyu.
Tune in for the final this afternoon from just after 2:00pm BST.
09:38 AM BST
GB women underway at the Bercy Arena
The women’s wheelchair basketball team are underway in their second preliminary group match against Canada.
They will look to continue their strong form after beating Spain 69-34 in their opening match on Thursday.
The atmosphere is electric at the Bercy Arena, with the GB women taking an early 4-2 lead.
09:26 AM BST
‘Mr Indestructible’ van Gass goes for second Games gold
Jaco van Gass – a Parachute Regiment veteran who lost his lower-left arm after being hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Afghanistan – stormed to cycling gold on Friday, despite fearing a collision with a car last week might wreck his Paralympic dream.
Van Gass, who retained his C3 3000 metre individual pursuit title on the track with a victory over team-mate Fin Graham, was left with cuts and a black eye when the accident happened in the French capital while he was checking out the road-race course.
Today, he might add another medal to the roster as he takes to the Velodrome track for the men’s C1 to C3 1000m time trial heats this morning. If he qualifies, he will compete in the final this afternoon at around 1:00pm BST.
Gareth A Davies has the full story here.
09:11 AM BST
Kingstone into the quarter finals
Over at the Esplanade des Invalides, British archer Victoria Kingstone has just qualified for the quarter finals in the W1 women’s individual.
She defeated Brazilian opponent Juliana Cristina Ferreira da Silva 128-77 in a dominant display and will face South Korea’s Kim Okgeum at 9:25am BST.
09:06 AM BST
Brits dominate in the pool
Three more ParalympicsGB swimmers will go for gold this afternoon, after Poppy Maskill, Louise Fiddes, and Olivia Newman-Baronius all qualified in the women’s S14 200m freestyle heats this morning.
Maskill and Fiddes raced in the first heat, with the pair finishing in first and second place with strong times of 2:10.36 and 2:10.64.
Newman-Baronius went next in heat 2 and finished in first place with a time of 2:11.64.
They will race in the final at 4:50pm BST against the five other quickest swimmers from the qualifiers.
08:54 AM BST
GB swimmers eye up more gold
Stephen Clegg and William Ellard can both add to ParalympicsGB’s medal tally this evening after qualifying in their heat races this morning.
Clegg raced into first place in the S12 100m backstroke heat 2 with an impressive time of 1:00.00.
Meanwhile, Ellard, who won GB’s first para swimming medal on Thursday, qualified in first place in the men’s S14 200m freestyle heat 2 with a time of 1:55.19.
Tune in this evening from 4:30pm BST when both swimmers will go for gold at the La Defense Arena.
08:42 AM BST
Conversation that drove Eden Rainbow-Cooper to the Paralympics
GB athlete Eden Rainbow-Cooper was 16 when, during that tricky period of attempting to map out her life course, she followed a first appearance at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships with a careers appointment at her school.
“I was at a pretty high level on the junior [athletics] scene,” recalls Rainbow-Cooper. “So when this woman asked what I wanted to do I said, ‘Sport’. There was no question about it.
“She, obviously not knowing me or anything about me, said, ‘Do you really think you can do that? You don’t look like an elite athlete’.
“I didn’t say anything back. It was so shocking to me that someone who had never met me before would sit there and tell me I couldn’t do sport because I didn’t look like I could. For the kid in the wheelchair to say that’s what I was going to do, she just wasn’t well educated on it and made a quick assumption.
“It definitely drove me further to prove anyone wrong who ever thought that I couldn’t be a sportsperson.”
Rianbow-Cooper will go for gold in the women’s T54 5000m final this morning.
Ben Bloom has the full story here.
08:33 AM BST
What to watch on day three
Here are some events to keep an eye out for on day three:
You can find our full rundown here.
Wheelchair basketball
9:30am: Great Britain vs Canada
GB’s women will battle Canada in their second preliminary match for a place in the quarter finals.
Para athletics
9:30am-10:30am: women’s 5000m T54 final and men’s 1500m T46 final
GB athletes Eden Rainbow-Cooper and Luke Nuttall will both go for gold at the Stade de France.
Para taekwondo
12:30pm-1:30pm: men’s K44 +80kg and women’s K44 +65kg quarterfinals
Matt Bush and Amy Truesdale will both compete for places in the semi-finals.
Wheelchair rugby
6:30pm: Great Britain vs France
The Champ De Mars Arena is sure to be rocking this evening as the GB team, defending Paralympic champions, take on the home side.
08:20 AM BST
Good morning!
Welcome to today’s live coverage of day three of the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
There were nine medals for ParalympicsGB on Friday and it was once again in the pool and in the velodrome where the team shone. The swimmers and cyclists picked up two golds each leaving GB second in the table behind China.
GB’s Jaco van Gass won gold in the final of the men’s C3 3000m individual pursuit after beating team-mate Finlay Graham who took home silver.
A resilient van Gass stormed to cycling gold despite being involved in a car accident in the French capital last week which he feared might wreck his Paralympic dream.
ParalympicsGB’s Elizabeth Jordan claimed gold in the women’s B 1000m time trial with her pilot Danni Khan.
Meanwhile in the pool, Maisie Summers-Newton stormed to gold in the women’s SM6 200m individual medley to retain her title from Tokyo 2020, while Tully Kearney triumphed in the women’s S5 100m freestyle to add to her 200m gold from Thursday.
We’re heading to the Stade de France this morning where GB athletes Eden Rainbow-Cooper and Luke Nuttall will go for gold in the women’s 5000m and men’s 15000m finals.
Meanwhile, there will be medal opportunities for GB cyclists including Fran Brown, Jaco van Gass, Archie Atkinson, and Blaine Hunt in the velodrome, before all eyes turn back to the pool where more GB hopefuls will compete in a range of qualifiers.
There’s something for everyone this morning, with the women’s wheelchair basketball team fighting for a place in the quarter-final against Canada at 9:30am, and more gold medal opportunities in the archery, tennis, and shooting.
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