The Olympic Park was again going through a symbolic Indian summer on Thursday night. The number of events left is decreasing with every passing hour of these Paralympics; it was the same in August. And so with the increasing finality of the most glorious summer of sport these isles have ever seen came this night, billed as 'Thriller Thursday'. One to rival that magical Olympic session on August 4 when Jess Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford delivered British Athletics' greatest ever result. That night, truly deserved the 'Super Saturday' tag it received with such reverence.
A packed Olympic Stadium made for an extraordinary atmosphere as an evening of Paralympic athletics presented the partisan masses with a plethora of British medal hopes. Expectation was high, but no one really knew what the next four hours would bring. Talk in the stands was about the 'Weirwolf' winning another gold, and some young fella from Cambridge called Peacock racing against the icon that is Oscar Pistorius.
That was for later however, as Yorkshire's Hannah Cockroft wheeled into the stadium chasing her second gold of London 2012 in the Women's T34 200m final. The Briton was well fancied to win again and she didn't disappoint, breaking the Paralympic Record. The first gold of the night settled nerves and drew approving roars from the crowd. Suddenly we were all caught up in the chase down of both the Beijing tally of 102 medals and the BPA Games target of 103. And as news of medals from other venues came in hope sprung eternal.
Thriller Thursday was earning its name as it slow-burned like a Hitchcockian classic. Other races and battles added drama to proceedings as track and field events came alive as night consumed the red skies over Stratford. Paralympics GB landed several bronze medals on the track, with Ola Abidogun the standout in the Men's T46 100m final.
And with that, the business end of the night came. David Weir was up first in the Men's T54 800m final. With two golds to his name already and a reputation as a no-frills athlete of the people, one could be forgiven for thinking he might take his foot off the gas for his third event. Whilst the distance was the shortest of those he had competed in so far, a strong field meant victory would not come at a canter.
And Weir loves to make these crowds scream.
Headed into the home straight he was again, like his previous victories, bunched tight with rivals and could only tear away with metres to spare. The gleaming number seven helmet came first again; his trademark roar with arms aloft at the finish line synced with delirium in the stands. Gold for Great Britain, the second of the night.
The atmosphere then changed. It best resembled the mood around this wonderful place on August 5, ahead of the Men's 100m Olympic final. While everyone cheered madly for Cockroft, Weir and co., it was this new star - Jonnie Peacock - that everyone was interested in.
The sprinters emerged for the Men's T44 100m final. This was it. Peacock, who came into the race the form man and with huge interest from the British media in the build-up looked relaxed in his surroundings as the camera panned down the field. The headline makers of these Games, Pistorius and Brazil's Alan Oliveira were in neighbouring lanes and there were audible gasps from the masses given the fall-out from 'Bladegate'. This was however to discredit American Jerome Singleton who was also considered a strong favourite.
A rousing chant of 'Peacock! Peacock!' reverberated around the Olympic Stadium as officials sought quiet for the gun. The teenager encouraged his fans for silence and whilst a faulty start for Oliveira prolonged proceedings, the sprinters settled quickly. Watching these races are so difficult because the quest to savour every moment is thwarted by the brilliance of the competition on the field. The cheers were deafening as this incredible group of Paralympians charged to the finish line.
And in the end, Jonnie Peacock delivered in emphatic fashion. He won with a new Paralympic Record of 10.90. This, running with one blade, against competitors who have two and the benefit of experience. It was an amazing achievement, one that had the capacity crowd on their feet.
Thriller Thursday had reached its zenith.
The beauty of witnessing Peacock win was not that it was a British victory. That is, in itself, a joyful achievement. It was more recognising that we had an athlete with the looks, likeability and talent of a Jess Ennis or Tom Daley. Disability, Paralympic, it didn't matter. This is someone who stood on their own on the biggest stage - the most watched and attended Games in history - and delivered at such a tender age. As a nation we love winners, and there is no doubt that Jonnie Peacock will be on our screens and in our papers for many years to come. A hero was born tonight that in the fullness of time will transcend expectations of what it means to be a Paralympian. Oscar Pistorius has been the baton carrier for revolution in the movement over the past four years and tonight, as he embraced Peacock, that baton was symbolically transferred.
Super Saturday had Jess, Mo and Greg. Thriller Thursday produced Jonnie, David and Hannah. And with all the other medals won and targets smashed, this wonderful night may just usurp its Olympic relative in the memories of a nation.
Is it not too much to ask that this summer never ends?
