Paralympics - Teen star leads British effort
Eurosport - Mon, 08 Sep 17:27:00 2008
Great Britain's youngest Paralympian Eleanor Simmonds sent a shockwave through the National Aquatics Centre with a stunning and inspirational victory in Beijing
The 13-year-old's sensational performance was the catalyst for a successful evening at the Water Cube, with David Roberts taking gold, Heather Frederiksen and Louise Watkin silver and Matt Walker bronze.
Anthony Kappes and tandem pilot rider Barney Storey had earlier won Britain's fourth cycling gold of the Games at the Laoshan Velodrome.
The athletics team also weighed in with silver medals for Shelly Woods and Chris Martin on the first day of competition at the Bird's Nest Stadium.
Britain lie in third place in the medal table behind hosts China and the United States at the end of day two with seven golds, five silvers and three bronze.
Simmonds timed her finish to perfection in the women's S6 100 metres freestyle to win in one minute 18.75 seconds and become the youngest individual British Paralympic champion of all time.
Simmonds, who was born in Walsall but competes for Swansea, forecast a medal on Sunday night - but she predicted the wrong colour.
"I had a dream about it, but I only came second," she said after beating world record holder Doramitzi Gonzalez of Mexico into third place.
Simmonds, who will be 14 in November and has Achondroplasia (dwarfism), broke her own British record in securing victory - and her best event is yet to come.
She is the world record holder in the S6 400m freestyle, which takes place on Sunday, after setting the mark in the British Championships earlier this year.
Roberts then successfully began his bid to overtake Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson as Britain's most successful Paralympian ever with victory in the men's S7 100m freestyle.
The 28-year-old from Pontypridd, who has cerebral palsy, lowered his own Paralympic record to 1min 00.35secs to triumph, while Walker was third.
It was Roberts' third successive gold in the event.
The three-time Paralympian witnessed Simmonds' victory from the call room before his final.
"They were all crying in there," he said.
"Even I thought I might - if I wasn't racing I probably would have - but you've got to try and focus."
Roberts now has eight Paralympic gold medals, but, with four events to go, he remains cautious on the prospects of succeeding Grey-Thompson.
"I'll take it one medal at a time," he added.
"That's one down, four to go.
"The next one is a toughy - it's the relay. I think we're in the right shape to do it, but we'll see."
Frederiksen was second in the women's S8 100m freestyle and Watkin finished behind South African Natalie du Toit in the women's S9 100m freestyle.
Kappes and Storey secured Britain's fourth cycling gold medal, powering to victory in the men's B&VI one-kilometre time trial at the Laoshan Velodrome in a world record of 1:02.864.
The duo's triumph follows on from velodrome victories for Simon Richardson, Darren Kenny and Aileen McGlynn - with her tandem pilot rider Ellen Hunter - on day one.
Seven of the 10 available gold medals at the track in last month's Olympics returned to British soil and the team have won all bar one race they have competed in at the Paralympics.
Sarah Storey, Barney's wife, was fifth in the LC1-2/CP4 500m time-trial.
The 30-year-old was competing in her fifth Paralympics - her first on a bike having switched from the pool - but her strongest event is yet to come in the LC1-2/CP4 individual pursuit, where she is European, world and Paralympic World Cup champion.
Kappes, who is partially sighted, was thrilled to add the Paralympic title to his World Championship and Paralympic World Cup wins.
"We follow the model of the able-bodied lads," the 35-year-old said.
"What they do, we try to do.
"We have to emulate them and I'm glad on this occasion we did.
"To be honest, technically it was not superb, it could have been better, but we'll take it."
More gold could be heading Britain's way on day three with Kenny, McGlynn, Rik Waddon and Jody Cundy - another former Paralympic swimmer - all in action on the bike.
Woods and Martin were edged into second place on the track and on the field, respectively.
Wheelchair racer Woods avoided a crash across four lanes on the penultimate lap of the women's T54 5000m to set a personal best of 11:54.29, an agonising 0.26secs behind winner Diane Roy of Canada, who set a Paralympic record.
The 22-year-old from Blackpool said: "Crashes happen quite a lot and this one was just in front of me but I managed to swerve.
"I believed in myself - I knew I could do it and get a medal."
Martin was awarded silver in the men's F33/34/52 discus despite a Paralympic record throw of 28.37m.
A factoring system based on the level of disability meant the 36-year-old from Mansfield was pushed out of the gold medal position by Aigars Apinis, who threw a world record for the F52 class of 20.47m.
That earned the Latvian 1097 points, 23 more than Martin, while Britain's Daniel West was sixth.
Meanwhile wheelchair racer David Weir remains on course for five gold medals after two comfortable first-round heat wins at the Bird's Nest.
The multiple world champion from Wallington, Surrey, free-wheeled for the last 50m of his men's T54 400m heat this morning to qualify second fastest for the semi-finals.
The 29-year-old then returned to the track for the 5000m heats, clocking a season's best of 10:21.27 in qualification for Thursday's final.
Australia's Kurt Fearnley was the fastest qualifier in a Paralympic record of 10:13.21.
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Comment 7 - 26 of 26
Beijing Games 2008
Day Four at the Games - Sept 10
Cycling scoop ends with three out of three: Sarah Storey, Anthony Kappes and the team sprinters sealed GB’s 13-medal haul in the Laoshan Velodrome with golds 10, 11 and 12 for Britain. GB cyclists won 12 of the 21 track cycling events.
Frederiksen and Roberts keep the medals flowing: Heather Frederiksen smashed her world record to win gold in the 100m backstroke (S8) and David Roberts won his second of the Games as GB’s men blitzed the 4x100m freestyle.
GB medals today: 10 Gold: 5 Silver: 3 Bronze: 2
GB medals overall: 43 Gold: 21 Silver: 13 Bronze: 9
Sport by Sport round-up
Archery: Mick Beard won a dramatic match to make the next stage of the individual recurve event as four of the five GB archers in action enjoyed singles victories.
Athletics: David Weir dipped under the world record to take silver in the T45 400m final as illness hampered his challenge for the title. Stephen Payton, Graeme Ballard and Gemma Prescott missed the medals in their finals.
Basketball: The GB men’s team beat Brazil 69-53 to secure their place in the quarter-finals while the women went down fighting to defending champions USA, 31-56.
Boccia: The GB team won both their group matches to seal a quarter-final spot as individual silver medallist Nigel Murray led the quartet to victories over Canada and Argentina.
Cycling: Three more golds sealed GB’s most successful four days ever in Paralympic cycling taking the total tally to 13. Sarah Storey won individual pursuit (LC3-4 CP3), Anthony Kappes and Barney Storey took individual pursuit (LC1-2 CP4), and Mark Bristow, Jody Cundy and Darren Kenny won team sprint (LC1-4 CP3/4).
Equestrian: Felicity Coulthard freestyled to silver as she and her ride Roffelaar impressed the judges to a Fiddler on the Roof soundtrack.
Judo: Small correction – Sam Ingram won bronze yesterday because his opponent withdrew with an injury. He did not win by Ippon.
Football: Jonathan Paterson’s seven-a-side men put up another valiant display against the full-time Iranians but Britain lost their second group game 3-0 to leave them out of the medals. They will play for fifth if they beat Ireland in the final group game.
Powerlifting: Natalie Blake finished sixth as Nigeria’s Lucy Ejike smashed the world record twice to take gold in the under-48kg.
Rowing: The mixed coxed four and mixed double scull crews made it through their repechage races to guarantee four GB boats in tomorrow’s four finals.
Swimming: Frederiksen led the way, followed by the 4x100m team, while a trio of teenagers won silver and bronze medals – Louise Watkin, Jon Fox and Sean Fraser.
Tennis: Peter Norfolk served up a convincing win in his quarter-final to book a place in Friday’s semis against number three seed Nick Taylor of USA. Lucy Shuker lost in three sets and to go out of the women’s singles.
In addition to the appalling lack of coverage from any tv network of the para games, where is the yahoo medal table and why is the most recent article about the games from Monday? I have just heard on radio 2 that our team has taken further 10 medals today - Go team GB! I agree with most of the comments on here, the covereage is apalling and there is an audience out there who want to cheer on their incredably talented and hard working athletes.
Well done all our paralympians!
In the interests of getting the man in the street behind the paralympics though, can we stop being politically correct and just say what the criteria with regards to disability is for each event? 'Women's K6 cycling' or whatever means nothing to me. Sometimes it isn't immediately obvious what the athlete's disability is. (please don't say they are 'challenged'.. you aren't helping anybody)
I agree! where is the coverage, whats going on i have had to go on to the net to find out, lets hope they get a good hero's welcome on their return and that it is televised please.
Still no sign of the medal table. Cone on Yahoo - it's the end of day 2. How can you expect to be taken seriously as a source of news if it takes more than 2 days to do something as simple as a medal table.
The coverage by the BBC (a 1 hour/day highlights show and 5 hours on saturday and sunday - unless you have BBCi) is appalling. Hardly equal opportunities, but then, even the Olympic coverage was heavily biased against female athletes, unless they were winning medals!) Makes you wonder why we pay a licence fee really....
I agree there should be the same amount of coverage of the Paralympics as the able bodied olympics, i would really like to see my cousin who is competing in the paralympics in the shotput on the tv as it would give us a chance to cheer her on, she knows we are all routing for her and the others who are competing, just because they are disabled does not make then less important than anyone else, come on people pull your finger out and show support
I got up this morning and thought, ooh I know, lets return to the heady 'good news' days of late July and Early August and put the Beeb on to watch the ParaOlympics.
Nothing.
What a missed opportunity. - Yes I know its raining. yes I know I don't have any money and I'll have even less by the end of the year. So GIVE US SOMETHING TO CHEER US UP. Put the ParaOlympic coverage on Breakfast TV..
i agree with all the comments on the lack of t.v. coverage with the paralympics. they deserve more coverage for the effort they put in after having to fight for their right as disabled persons, we should be very proud of them.we have a lot of yobbos in this country who have no respect for anybody or anything. These atheletes along with their families and others like them, with whatever disability they have, have to cope with very little help and respect in return. so come on bbc we have to pay for our licences to you, take off a couple of mundane programmes each day (you only repeat programmes anyway) so please give the paralympics the coverage they deserve and let us see more. jan l 47
your complaints made me curious about other European countries Paralympic TV coverage. There is from a couple of hours to nada =NOTHING!!!
There is still so much to learn.
If we want London 2012 to be special we should integrate the two events and have eveyone competing in front of the same crowds and the same TV cameras.
Very disappointed at the lack of coverage for the Paralympics, these althetes deserve the same treatment and respect as the competitors in the Olympics. They do not need to be patronized, but the Paralympics should get the same coverage, with the medal tally being regularly featured on news bulletins.
i agree with all the comments on the lack of t.v. coverage with the paralympics. they deserve more coverage for the effort they put in after having to fight for their right as disabled persons, we should be very proud of them.we have a lot of yobbos in this country who have no respect for anybody or anything. These atheletes along with their families and others like them, with whatever disability they have, have to cope with very little help and respect in return. so come on bbc we have to pay for our licences to you, take off a couple of mundane programmes each day (you only repeat programmes anyway) so please give the paralympics the coverage they deserve and let us see more.
It will be interesting to see if Jonathan Ross affords them the same courtesy and invites all the Paralympics Team GB gold medal winners on to his TV show.
I agree with all the previous comments!! If anything these athletes are greater than those that competed a couple of weeks ago having overcome so many odds to get there! We should all be proud and very humbled by their acheivements. I think it is unforgivable that there is so little coverage! Come on BEEB get a grip we pay the license fee after all!!
Jackie x
Who wrote "why don't we give our paralympic more coverage this is our country and we should all be proud that they give it their best shot. it's tha taking part that counts, good luck team gb"???? It's disgraceful that even though you seem to be on the side of Team GB, you are also saying that they aren't going to get anywhere defeatist much??? and i quote "we should all be proud that they give it their best shot, it's the taking part that counts", these people are the best althletes in the world and deserve the credit that's due which is exactly the same as the athletes that took part in the olympics no more and no less.
Come on Beeb, this is shocking these people are as entertaining as able bodied atheletes. If you don't show the games how can the sport progress? Shame on you!
I have just written to the bbc to complain, maybee if everyone else does aswell we might beable to get more coverage soon.
These men and women are a true insperation to us all. This is what the olympic games stand for. I want to watch these atheletes compete and get the praise they deserve, but yet again they only have 1 hr a day coverage or on "the red buton". THESE ATHLETES HAVE A RIGHT TO THE SAME AMOUNT OF COVERAGE olympics had 2 weeks ago.
bbc sports coverage is getting worse- they show virtually nothing of the paralympics and even on the olympic games themselves they spend far too much time showing track events time after time after time interspersed with inane commentary from the presenter and theie team of has beens (or in some cases never were) 'experts'. Come on BEEB how about a fair and balanced coverage of all events and lees of the verbakl diahorea?
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