Gold rush on day one for ParalympicsGB
ParalympicsGB finished the opening day second in the Paralympic Games medal table after a series of incredible performances which saw the team win five gold, three silver and three bronze.
There were golden successes in the pool as Bethany Firth defended her 100m backstroke S14 title while Ollie Hynd set a new world record to win the 400m freestyle S8 final.
While in the velodrome Dame Sarah Storey became the most successful British female Paralympian ever with gold in the C5 3,000m individual pursuit with Megan Giglia were Steve Bate and pilot Adam Duggleby also on the top step of the podium.
Dame Sarah Storey said:
"I've not thought about being the most decorated Paralympian until two days ago but Tanni's still a hero for me. To go quicker than London after having my daughter Louisa is the icing on the cake. You can never underestimate anyone on the other side of the track. It's amazing and I don't think it will sink for a very long time. These things are just things that are a byproduct of doing a good performance but someone else will come along and smash it out the water at some point.”
After an incredible evening of cycling, Jody Cundy will be looking to continue the success in the combined C4-5 race on Friday with Jon-Allan Butterworth also in the same event.
Commonwealth Games champions Sophie Thornhill and pilot Helen Scott will also have the opportunity to medal in the women’s B 1000m time trial.
Reigning Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock will look to retain his title in the T44 100m final on the track while Sophie Hahn and Georgie Hermitage will be in 100m T37 and T38 finals respectively.
London 2012 silver medallist Stef Reid will also be in medal contention in the F44 long jump at the Olympic Stadium with Hannah Cockcroft beginning her campaign in the 100m T34.
In the pool, 15-year-old Ellie Robinson will be looking to get the better of Paralympic, World and European champion Oksana Khrul from Ukraine in the 50m butterfly S6.
World champion powerlifter Ali Jawad will be aiming improve on his fourth in London in the -59kg category
Stuart Nangle makes his Paralympic debut in the 10m air pistol event with Issy Bailey also in shooting action.
The rowing, which begins at the Lagoa Stadium, is one of three sports kicking off with their first competition action of the Games alongside judo and wheelchair tennis.
Numerous Brits, including Alfie Hewitt and Andy Lapthorne, are in wheelchair tennis action while Jonathan Drane faces Sharif Khalilov in the preliminary round of 16 in the men’s -81kg in the judo with Rachel Morris and Tom Aggar going in the singles sculls.
The wheelchair basketball campaign continues for the ParalympicsGB men and women against Iran and Argentina respectively while there’s plenty of table tennis action throughout the day, with Rob Davies looking to continue his winning streak from Thursday.
