Paralympics LIVE: Great Britain’s Brock Whiston wins silver on Games debut at Paris 2024
ParalympicsGB’s Jaco van Gass, Lizzi Jordan and Tully Kearney also won golds on day two
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Louise Thomas
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The Paralympic Games kicked off in fine fashion on Thursday as the action got underway at Paris 2024.
And day two was another golden day for Paralympics GB who added to their medal tally with incredible performances in the pool and on the velodrome track.
Blaine Hunt started the medal rush with a silver in the men’s C4-5 1000m time trial at the velodrome before Matt Robertson won bronze in the men’s C2 3000m individual pursuit. Jaco van Gass then defeated GB teammate Finlay Graham in the C3 3000m individual pursuit to claim ParalympicsGB’s first gold medal of the day with Graham also adding a silver.
Elizabeth Jordon and pilot Dannielle Khan were also victorious as they won Britain’s fourth gold of the Games win the women’s B 1000m time trial while Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl also won bronze.
In the pool, Tully Kearney added to the gold medley she won in the women’s S5 200m freestyle yesterday by triumphing in the 100m event this afternoon and Maisie Summers-Newton defended her title in the women’s SM6 200m medley.
Elsewhere, Zachary Shaw qualified for the final of the men’s T12 100m, while team-mate Eden Rainbow-Cooper also progressed in the women’s T54 5000m.
Follow all the action, latest results and medals from Paris 2024 in our live blog below:
Maisie Summers-Newton feels the pressure but lands another gold medal
British swimmer Maisie Summers-Newton was feeling the pressure of being reigning Paralympic champion before successfully defending her 200 metres individual medley title in Paris.
The 22-year-old was one of the breakout stars of Tokyo 2020 following double gold in the pool on debut.
Summers-Newton, who this summer qualified as a primary school teacher, produced another A* performance, touching the wall in two minutes 56.90 seconds in the SM6 classification.
Maisie Summers-Newton feels the pressure but lands another gold medal
The reigning Paralympic champion successfully defended her 200 metres individual medley title in Paris.
David Weir sets up final duel with Marcel Hug in 5000m final
And Weir does what he does, surging through the field on the final lap to book his place in tomorrow’s T54 500m final without burning too much energy. His battle in the final will be with Marcel Hug, and that should be a thriller.
David Weir bids for place in T54 5000m final
Over to the track, where six-time gold medallist David Weir goes in the men’s 5000m T54 heats, for a place in Saturday’s final...
Rachel Choong wins opening match in badminton singles
What a turnaround this is, as Great Britain’s Rachel Choong comes from one game down to beat Peru’s Rubi Milagros Fernandez Vargas in her first women’s badminton SH6 group match. Choong took the decider 21-17, and that sets her on her way to reaching the quarter-finals.
Britain up to second in medal table at Paris 2024
It has been a golden day for Britain with four golds won to jump up to second in the overall medal table, behind only China, who have eight golds. Brazil and Netherlands both have four golds so far in Paris, with Italy and Australia on three each.
Rachel Choong in action in badminton group phase
Back to the badminton arena where Britain’s Rachel Choong – GB’s first ever female para-badminton player – is in action. She has lost the first game of this best-of-three match to Peru’s Rubi Milagros Fernandez Vargas but this second game is tight, with Vargas leading 11-9 at the midway point.
Brock Whiston takes silver in the pool
Back to the pool, where Britain’s Brock Whiston wins silver in the women’s 100m breaststroke final (SB8), beaten by favourite Spain’s Anastasiya Dmytriv Dmytriv (that is not a typo). Whiston is the world record holder but she was always going to be up against it tonight against the reigning world champion.
Jack Shephard wins badminton battle
A huge roar goes up from Jack Shephard after he edges out Brazil’s Vitor Tavares in an epic battle in their SH6 group match.
Shephard wins the deciding game 21-19 after Tavares found the net. A hug from the pair, showing great respect, and Shephard then gees up the crowd. He has won two group matches now and stands a good chance of making the quarter-finals.
Brazil’s Petrucio Ferreira wins men’s 100m T47 gold
A huge achievement on the track, where Brazil’s has just won gold for the third successive Games in the men’s 100m (T47). It was not dissimilar to Noah Lyles’ win in the Olympic Games earlier this month, with a late surge to pip his rivals on the line. After a long wait, confirmation of his triumph popped up on the big screen.
Sir Lee Pearson misses Paralmypics amid investigation
Sir Lee Pearson was not available for Paris Paralympics selection as he had already been suspended amid an ongoing investigation into his conduct, the Press Association reports.
Pearson’s suspension was in place before a four-strong British para equestrian team was named for Paris.
Pearson - Great Britain’s third most successful Paralympian - has not competed since March 2023 and therefore was not eligible for selection.
His suspension is not connected in any way to equine welfare.
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