It’s been a good day for ParalympicsGB - and on the first day of the athletics event Great Britain’s has seen one of its women up on the top of the podium.
Athletics
19 year old Hannah Cockroft (pictured above) has won gold in the T34 100m in emphatic form, setting a new Paralympic record in the process.
The wheelchair racer, who has cerebral palsy, went into the event as the favourite. After qualifying fastest from the heats, where she also broke the Paralympic record, everyone was expecting her to deliver and she didn’t disappoint.
Cycling
Great Britain’s Aileen McGlynn won tandem silver in the Women’s Ind. B 1km Time Trial at the velodrome this morning.
The visually impaired athlete lost her title as B 1km Time Trial champion to Australia’s Felicity Johnson, who finished the course in a record time of 1:08.919, with her pilot Stephanie Morton. The duo beat the record previously set in Beijing by McGlynn and her former partner Ellen Hunter.
Swimming
Heather Frederiksen has won a silver in the S8 400m freestyle, finishing behind American Jessica Long who broke the world record.
The Merseysider had a breakthrough meeting at the 2008 Paralympics with 400m Freestyle silver paving the way for a further individual gold, silver and bronze in the S8 classification.
But having endured a difficult year with on-off illness, the Cheshire-based athlete admitted it was an emotional feeling to reach the Paralympic podium again.
“It means so much to me,” said Frederiksen. “To be able to get a medal in front of a home crowd is an incredible feeling. I really couldn’t have given any more today.
“To be able to be here after the 12 months I’ve had with illness is great so to be able to go home with a medal from this event is absolutely phenomenal.”
Stephanie Millward claimed the first Paralympic medal of her career with silver in the S9 100m Backstroke.
Millward has become one of the stars of the British team since her Paralympic debut four years ago, winning six medals at the 2010 World Championships in Eindhoven.
But having finally landed an elusive Paralympic prize, Millward admitted it was a moment she would truly savour.
“A silver medal is incredible. I feel so proud and so impressed. I feel on top of the world really,” said Millward who has multiple sclerosis.
“There was a time I thought I wouldn’t be able to walk again, let alone swim so to win a Paralympic medal, whether it be gold, silver or bronze, proves you can keep on going through an illness.
“It was a bit of a shame to finish fifth in the 100m Fly yesterday but looking back, it was probably a good warm-up for today. It did what it had to do.”
Equestrian – dressage
Britain enjoyed another spectacularly successful day, winning two grades and finishing second in another, gaining a healthy lead after the first half of the team competition, which culminates on Sunday night.
Sophie Christiansen posted the highest percentage of the Games so far with 83.765%, riding her own Janeiro 6 to win the Grade Ia with a massive lead. It is the combination’s personal best score.
Sophie, who is competing at her third Games aged a mere 24, found the 15-year-old 16.2hh bay gelding by Jacquare through the Eilberg family last year. He unexpectedly became her top horse, having been her reserve, when Rivaldo Of Berkeley was put down at the end of last year.
Sportsister, The Women’s Sports Magazine
Image credit: British Paralympic Association
