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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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:
Jaco van Gass retains Paralympic title and Lizzi Jordan wins gold in velodrome
Military hero Jaco van Gass won the battle of the Britons to retain his Paralympic crown before compatriot Lizzi Jordan claimed gold on her Games debut.
Afghanistan veteran Van Gass smashed his own world record en route to successfully defending the men’s C3 3000m individual pursuit title in a final showdown with Scottish silver medallist Fin Graham.
Visually-impaired world champion Jordan, who lost her eyesight after contracting a rare strain of E. coli bacteria as a university student, then topped the podium alongside pilot Danni Khan in the women’s B 1000m time trial.
Jaco van Gass retains Paralympic title and Lizzi Jordan wins gold in velodrome
Afghanistan veteran Van Gass smashed his own world record en route to successfully defending the men’s C3 3000m individual pursuit.
Maisie Summers-Newton wins gold!
That breastroke leg is insane from Maisie Summers-Newton who pulled away from her nearest rival and absolutely dominated the second half of the race.
It’s a comfortable victory for her and the Brit defends her paralympic title in this event with a time of 2:56.90!
That’s a fourth gold medal of the day for Great Britain!
Summers-Newton back in the pool
Maisie Summers-Newton returns to the pool now looking to secure more medals for ParalympicsGB. British teammate Grace Harvey is also competing in this women’s SM6 200m medley.
America’s Ellie Marks is off to a strong start but Summers-Newton doesn’t let her get away.
At the halfway stage, it’s the American who has the lead by around one and a half seconds. Summers-Newton is very strong on the breaststroke though.
Munro won’t medal in Paris
Taekwondo hopeful Beth Munro has been beaten 10-2 by Denmark’s Lisa Gjessing in the K44 -65kg repechage meaning she is out of the paralympics and will not win a medal.
It ends a disappointing Games for the Tokyo silver medallist.
Jaco van Gass hit by car in build-up to paralympics
Jaco van Gass spoke in the mixed zone after winning the men’s C3 3000m individual pursuit and explained that he got hit by a car last week.
He said: “I had a little accident last Friday, we did a recce of the road course last week, a car pulled out in front of me and I went over the bonnet.
“We went through significant concussion protocols, I took a day off to let my body settle, then I was back on the bike.
“I was heartbroken, I literally thought this could be my Paralympics done. Other people saw me, they helped calm me down. The next day is always the hardest as the body settles down, the Saturday was very hard to kind of comprehend - would I be riding?
“By Sunday I was riding on the track again.”
Tully Kearney wins gold in women’s S5 freestyle 200m
Tully Kearney is racing for the gold medal in the women’s S5 100m freestyle as she looks to defend her Paralympic crown. The Brit has already won a gold by triumphing in the women’s S5 200m freestyle on Thursday.
As the bell goes to start the race Kearney gets away from the blocks well enough but she’s second heading towards the halfway mark.
The Brit grows in confidence though and increases the speed. She flies through the final 50m and finishes in a time of 1:15.10 just ahead of close rival Iryna Poida of Ukraine.
Another gold for ParalympicsGB!
What’s happened so far on day two?
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 bronz.e
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.
Tokyo champions Tully Kearney and Maisie Summers-Newton comfortably won their respective para swimming heats in the S5 100m freestyle and SM6 200m individual medley. They return to the pool this evening for the medal events.
As will twins Scarlett and Eliza Humphrey in the S11 400m freestyle.
Van Gass on difference between Tokyo and Paris:
He said: “It’s that’s very reason why I continued to carry on. The game plan was always to become a Paralympian, let alone a medallist.
“I stood on top of the podium looking into the stands in Tokyo and there was no-one.
“I knew from that second on, I would have to try again knowing that Paris was next, knowing that we’ll have those friends and family here. I had lots of adventures along the way but I kept with the bike.”
Fin Graham on winning silver after racing Jaco van Gass
He said: “It’s a carbon copy to Tokyo. I go out, break a world record and I get about five minutes, I’ve barely got off the bike before Jaco’s taken it off me.
“Coming into it Jaco’s the one to beat. He’s the reigning world champion and he was the Paralympic champion in Tokyo. He’s able to peak at the right time. In this event there’s no hiding - strongest man on the day wins and today, that is Jaco.”
Lizzi Jordon wins gold in the women’s B 1000m time trial
Lizzi Jordan and her pilot Danni Khan start slower than the Australia duo.
As the race goes on they speed up and cut the deficit, on the final straight the pace goes even quicker and they finish half a second faster that the Aussies!
It’s another gold on the track for Great Britain.
Lizzi Jordan and Danni Khan absolutely smashed that ride. Jordan is now the paralympic champion!
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