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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Your support makes all the difference.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:
Kadeena Cox crashes out of gold contention – but influence is still seen in GB’s medal haul
Kadeena Cox has spent the past decade playing the hand that her body has dealt her and this time, it gave her no choice but to fold.
Paris 2024 marks a decade since Cox was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and the last year has been perhaps her roughest yet, racked with relapses and plagued with injuries.
It all culminated in a cruel crash on the first turn of the 500m time trial, an event in which the 33-year-old was meant to win ParalympicsGB’s first medal of the Games and retain her title.
Cox crashes out of gold contention – but influence still seen in GB’s medal haul
Daphne Schrager claims silver after being inspired by Cox
Rose Ayling-Ellis makes history as first deaf presenter to work live on Paralympic Games
Rose Ayling-Ellis has made history as the first deaf presenter to work live on the Paralympic Games.
The 29-year-old appeared alongside Clare Balding to present Channel 4’s coverage of the Paris Paralympic Games on Thursday evening (29 August).
As Balding informed viewers her co-presenter was making history, the former Strictly champion explained: “It’s a bit complicated, there’s a lot going on.”
“I am too deaf for an ear piece, so I have the lovely Kirsty over there, who is going to be my earpiece lady.”
New record in velodrome
ParalympicsGB’s Matt Robertson has set a new Paralympic record and in the men’s para cycling C2 3,000m individual pursuit qualifier.
In 12 laps of the Velodrome, he lapped his competitor, Portugal’s Telmo Pinao, two times and finished with a time of 3:28.281.
That is a seriously impressive debut for the cyclist. The fastest two qualifiers will race for gold later today with Robertson currently top of the pile.
Cummins reacts to wheelchair rugby win
Nick Cummins, ParalympicsGB wheelchair rugby captain, spoke after leading the team to victory against Denmark at the Champ de Mars Arena.
In a post-match interview to Channel 4 he said: “This is what we have wanted for a long time – we’ve got great players, a great bench ethic, everyone’s in for the team and everyone’s got their team mates back.
“It’s really exciting – we’ve had a great start and we want to keep that going. The crowd here is amazing, its almost like playing back home – the energy was amazing.”
Starmer jokes about staying in ‘chilled’ Paris as he meets Team GB Paralympians
Sir Keir Starmer joked he wanted to stay in a “chilled” Paris as he met with Team GB Paralympians on Thursday (29 August).
The prime minister, who this week made an address to the nation admitting things will get worse for people in the UK before they get better, met several Paralympian athletes at their training ground Saint-Germain-en-Laybe in Paris.
One of the athletes told Sir Keir: “As you can see, it’s a very chilled atmosphere.”
The prime minister laughed and replied: “Yes, it’s nice. I am staying.”
The Labour leader then watched the Paralympians take part in their training sessions
Great Britain v Denmark
Great Britain have done it!
They’ve beaten Denmark 55-53 and are unbeaten in their title defence. Another tight match goes the way of the reigning champions.
But, they’ve got a real test still to come as they take on the hosts France tomorrow evening. So far so good for ParalympicsGB.
David Weir ready to take down ‘phenomenal’ Paralympics rival thanks to mystery benefactor
David Weir believes he’s ready to go faster than ever at the Paris Paralympics thanks to a mystery benefactor who bought him a state-of-the-art racing wheelchair.
It’s fair to say Weir, a six-time Paralympic champion, has cut a disillusioned figure at recent Games.
After his three golds in London, he was left raging in Rio, claiming a member of the team accused him of ‘throwing a race’ and vowing never compete for Britain again.
How David Weir’s mystery benefactor has closed gap to ‘phenomenal’ Paralympics rival
The 45-year-old believes he can compete now with long-time rival Marcel Hug in Paris
Great Britain v Denmark
Britain are turning up the heat in the final quarter of this wheelchair rugby clash. They lead 45-42 with six minutes or so remaining on the clock.
It’s a good lead to have but things can change quickly in this sport and scores can come thick and fast. The Paralympic champions need to remain switched on here.
ParalympicsGB launch winning defence of wheelchair rugby title against Australia
In the third quarter of their second group match against Denmark, Great Britain are currently being held 38-38.
Here’s a reminder of what happened yesterday when they took on Australia:
ParalympicsGB launched their wheelchair rugby title defence with a statement 58-55 victory over world number ones Australia in front of a capacity crowd in Paris.
Great Britain made history at Tokyo 2020 by memorably clinching the nation’s first gold in the mixed-gender sport.
ParalympicsGB launch winning defence of wheelchair rugby title against Australia
Great Britain made history at Tokyo 2020 by memorably clinching the nation’s first gold in the mixed-gender sport.
Brits impress in velodrome
The next para cyclist up for Great Britain is Blaine Hunt who is also competing in the C4-5 1000m time trial.
An unbelivably quick time of 1:02.005 is easily good enough to secure him a place in the final and he qualifies as the quickest of the three Brits with Jody Cundy and Archie Atkinson also safely through.
Australia’s Korey Boddington was last to race in the qualifiers and broke Jody Cundy’s Paralympic record, with a speedy time of 1:02.021.
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