Thanks for joining me. Have a good night.
USA beat GB 73-69 to win men's wheelchair basketball gold
It was a tight match but USA secure gold for the third straight Paralympics. Serio and Williams the heroes for the Americans.
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Wheelchair basketball: Bywater hits a great three for GB. USA 72-69 GB – 12 seconds to go.
Wheelchair basketball: USA 70-66 GB. 43 seconds to go.
Wheelchair basketball: USA 67-64 GB. Pratt completes a speedy break to close the gap. A minute and a half to go.
Wheelchair basketball: Williams puts up the two to keep USA ahead. Serio’s commits a fifth foul and he is off. Warburton gets two free throws and we have a five-point game.
Wheelchair basketball: USA 65-60 GB. Two minutes to go.
Wheelchair basketball: USA 63-6o GB. Things are tight with three minutes to go.
Wheelchair basketball: USA 63-59 GB. Pratt adds another two but then Fox commits a foul – that’s his fifth of the match and he can play no further part.
Wheelchair basketball: GB close the gap to six points in a the space of a few seconds. 63-57
Wheelchair basketball: USA 63-55 GB. A timeout is taken by GB with five minutes and 30 seconds on the clock.
Wheelchair basketball: USA are having no problems scoring baskets but Warburton gets two points for GB and wins a free throw. GB need plenty more of that – and to improve their defence.
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Wheelchair basketball: The third quarter concludes with USA leading 53-43. A big final 10 minutes for GB.
Wheelchair basketball: Serio and Williams are the dominant duo for USA and GB cannot find a way of stopping them. Williams opens up a 12-point lead.
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Wheelchair basketball: USA are once again in the ascendency, growing their advantage to nine points. USA 46-37 GB
Wheelchair basketball: GB have started the third quarter well against USA, who have a 40-37 lead. GB are looking better than in the first 20 minutes when they made too many errors.
Athletics: There was a dramatic end to the women’s T63 100m final when Italian Ambra Sabatini was leading but fell in her final few strides, taking compatriot Monica Contrafatto with her. It did help GB’s Ndidikama Okoh comes third, behind winner Martina Caironi and silver medallist Karisman Evi Tiarani.
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Wheelchair basketball: GB have a end-of-half flourish to close the gap to seven points. USA lead 38-31 going into the break.
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Check out the very best of today’s images from the action in Paris.
Wheelchair basketball: USA are opening up a decent lead early in the second quarter, stretching to being eight points ahead of GB.
Blind football: France win gold after Argentina see their third penalty saved and Villeroux scores. The fans go wild in Paris. The French flags are being waved with vigour after a nerve-shredding end.
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Wheelchair basketball: The first quarter ends with the USA 23-18 ahead against GB in a tight match thus far.
Blind football: A penalty shootout is required to settle the men’s final. It is pretty tense as the first four penalties are scored.
Wheelchair basketball: GB have given away some simple fouls and it has helped USA take an early 8-4 lead.
Wheelchair basketball: The gold medal match has begun. GB put the first points on the board. It should be a fierce encounter.
Athletics: That failure for Davies means Sorour from Kuwait wins the gold medal. He is in tears after an incredible night.
Athletics: It is another red flag – that is three in a row. He looks set to earn silver now in the shot put.
Athletics: We are heading into the final round of the F63 shot put. Can Davies produce a gold medal throw?
Wheelchair basketball: Ade Adepitan calls it “the biggest game in Paralympic basketball history for Great Britain”. GB are up against USA. It should be spicy.
Blind football: It is 1-1 in the final between France and Argentina. The fans are currently performing a silent Mexican wave, which is a lovely sight.
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Athletics: Davies gets a red flag in the fourth round, so makes no improvement on his distance from the previous effort.
Cheers Tom. We are heading into the final leg of the evening, including GB v USA in the wheelchair basketball.
Right, that’s my stint of Paralympics blogging done for the day. Will Unwin is back…
Athletics: Much more like it from Davies, his third-round throw of 15.10m puts him in the lead.
Hannah Cockroft has hinted this might be her last Games, telling Channel 4: “Nine gold medals, nine rings [of the stadium bell]. That might be the last chance. Now the hard work begins [her wedding in three weeks and five days away].
“Hopefully go home, have an amazing wedding and a great life.”
In the studio Tanni Grey-Thompson dismisses that idea and says Cockroft could compete at two more Paralympics.
Athletics: In the F63 shot put, Aled Davies has put down two throws of 14.32m to sit fourth currently.
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Athletics: While we wait for a bit of Cockroft reaction, the women’s T38 400m final has been taking with GB athlete Ali Smith finishing sixth, in a personal-best time of 1min0.88 secs.
Athletics: Cockroft’s time to win her ninth Paralympic gold is some eight seconds ahead of Adenegan. We’ll hear from the winner shortly.
Gold for Cockroft!
There’s no Paralympic record but Cockroft was streets ahead of fellow Briton Kare Adenegan in second spot. The other Briton, Fabienne Andre, comes home fourth.
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Athletics: Cockroft is already powering away, it’s currently a GB one-two with less than a lap to go.
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Athletics: The T34 800m is underway, can Cockroft do it?
It’s the final night of athletics in Paris, and GB have a couple of gold medal opportunities coming up with Aled Davies in the F63 shot put and Hannah Cockroft in the T34 800m.
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Evening all, thanks Will, I think we have a bit of athletics coming up. I’ll try and keep you across everything.
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I am going to nip away for a bit. Tom Bassam will take you through the upcoming fun.
Stephen Clegg reacts to winning gold: “Incredible. I would have liked to have gone a bit quicker. After that [100m] backstroke, that was incredible. I broke a world record and I’d be coming in here chasing that but as soon as I got the medal round my neck, I didn’t care about the record. It’s similar for this one. The time wasn’t amazing but I came to get the gold and I got the gold so I can’t be too disappointed.”
And here is Paul MacInnes’ report from Roland Garros.
Tennis: Some Alfie Hewett reaction after winning silver earlier.
“I’ve mixed emotions right now,” Hewett said. “After the start and the problem I had with my groin, it wasn’t looking too good. To grow into the match and fight and find a way and then get to a match-point scenario and be a few inches away from getting a gold is something I can be proud of. And the spirit of how it was played and the atmosphere and all of that is so, so positive, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“But obviously to be one point away and miss that opportunity is going to stick with me, you don’t just move on from something like that overnight. But it’s all about perspective, it’s about looking at the good things that today brought. Sometimes it’s bigger than the individual and the person and hopefully that today can just really kick on things with our sport even more and bring more attention. That side of it, I’m extremely proud of.”
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Clegg’s mum Moira is on C4: “It was totally amazing, out of this world, I wanted to cry.”
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Swimming: Interestingly, Dzmitry Salei, who is in Paris as a neutral athlete, finishes in second ahead of his brother Azerbaijan’s Raman Salei.
Stephen Clegg wins gold in men's S12 butterfly
It is a second gold medal for the Brit.
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Athletics: Tunisia’s Tissaoui produces the goods on the last lap, sprinting down the home straight to win gold in the men’s T38 1500m. Riech is second and Langdon third.
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Swimming: Stamatopoulou powers through to win the women’s 50m backstroke S4 gold. Boettcher gets silver and and Vieira Da Cruz bronze.
Weightlifting: Khattab of Jordan earns a new Paralympic of 240kg in round one of the men’s 97kg final.
Please remember to enjoy Paul MacInnes’ diary from Paris.
Keep up to date with the medal table in Paris.
Alice Tai: “That was quite rough. Man am I tired. When Jess went past me, I knew the other girls were going to be close so I tried to cling on for dear life.”
Swimming: USA’s Long chases down Tai, who tires late on, to win gold in the 100m S8 butterfly. In the end Tai comes third and Ishchiulova gets second in the end.
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Oda is on the floor in tears. His wheels have some off and Hewett comes over to help get them back on. A fine moment of sportsmanship.
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Oda beats Hewett to win men's wheelchair tennis gold
Oda takes aim and it is too fierce for Hewett at the baseline. Hewett needs to come up with something good but it is Oda with the momentum and it pings the ball into space for 0:30. A backhand gets Oda to gold medal point. The first one is whacked into the net but Oda looks relaxed still and gets it next time! What a moment for the 18-year-old.
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Oda cannot control a shot from back of court to make it 15:15. A beautiful backhand return from Hewett gets us back to 30:30. Nip and tuck. Hewett can’t get into a good position to hit a forehand and finds the net. Oda holds and is a game away from gold.
Hewett is serving for the gold medal. Oda gets to a second serve and pings it wide. A Hewett mishit makes it 15:15 in this incredible duel. A superb return from Oda inches him ahead in the game and it gets to break point. It looks like Hewett has overhit his shot but it hits the line to keep him in it. Oda wins it – 5-5.
It is first blood to Hewett as Oda drags a forehand wide. Hewett misjudges a second serve, pinging it into the base of the net and does similar on the next point. Oda goes long with from the back of court and it is back to 30:30. This is tense. Oda volleys into the net and we are at gold medal point but Hewett slices just wide. Deuce it is. Oda gets the advantage as Hewett loops a shot long but a miscue next time returns the game to deuce. In the end Oda holds. We go again.
This match is becoming a serious fight. Hewett has to battle to get to 30:30 after losing the first couple of points. Oda sends a shot an inch long and Hewett has his chance to win the game but instead we go to deuce. Hewett gets advantage … and holds! The Briton is a game away from gold.
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Oda knows he cannot be broken. The 18-year-old has a steely gaze and produces some big serves to put Hewett under pressure. The teenager takes the first couple of points but Hewett produces a big forehand to get him back into it and quickly gets to 30:30. Oda pushes Hewett around the back of court to earn game point, which he duly takes and the Japanese player calls for more noise from the crowd.
It has been a long wait for the canoeists, paddling into action in Paris when most other sports have moved on to their sightseeing and Sazerac eras. But all the kicking their heels was worth it for the British team, who finished the penultimate day of the Games with two golds and two silvers at the Stade Nautique de Vaires-sur-Marne.
Hewett double faults to make it 30:30 after winning the first couple of points. Oda looks to have a simple return but sends a backhand wide. Can Hewett hold to make it 4-2? Yes he can.
Hewett holds but as does Oda in rapid time. It is 3-2 to Hewett in the final set.
No one wants to hold their serve in this set. It is nerves? Oda puts too much on one to hand the break to Hewett. Whoever manages to hold first will have one hand on gold.
Oda speeds to three break points. Hewett gets back into it with a delicate backhand slice over the net which hits the line but the damage is already done, as a long shot gives Oda the game.
HEWETT BREAKS! Oda is up first in the final set. The left-hander produces some wicked serves and Hewett has to work hard to get them back but the damage is already done as Oda moves to game point, only for Hewett to bite back and earn deuce. The Briton takes the advantage but Oda does not mess about to level with a fine shot. Hewett produces a stunning return to break!
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Hewett levels final
Hewett wins his service game to love and we are heading to a decider. The Briton has the momentum, too.
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Hewett breaks!! The Brit wins the opening point on the Oda serve but then drops a mighty F-bomb after wasting a good chance to go 30-0 love up. No matter, he reels off the next three points to edge 5-4 ahead. As he prepares to serve for the second set, I’ll hand you over to Will Unwin.
The roof is now being closed on Philippe-Chatrier – the whirring going ahead as the two finalists play out game eight. The noise/moving shadows certainly don’t put off Hewett as he produces a hold to love of his own to restore second-set parity at 4-4.
A solid hold of serve from Hewett ties it up again at 3-3. All six games have gone with serve in this second set. In fact, make that seven now as Oda holds to love. The pressure goes back on Hewett.
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Oda makes relatively light work of his own serve, sending down a 150kmh boomer on game point that puts him 3-2 ahead. The Japanese’s backroom team, all wearing matching headbands, show their approval as Oda lets out another ear-splitting roar.
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Oda holds serve and then forces a series of break points in an epic, highlight-reel fourth game that goes on and on and on. Hewett survives all five of them – the fifth with a whipped winner from way outside the court – before finally putting it away with a high forehand. Out comes Hewett’s tongue in relief as he looks up and flings his arms out in celebration. It’s 2-2 in the second set.
Let’s head over to the Judo at Champs-de-Mars where GB’s Dan Powell has won silver in the men’s -90kg J1. Powell took on Arthur Cavalcante da Silva in the final but his Brazilian opponent was given the verdict.
It’s SILVER for @Dan_Dash_Powell in the Para Judo!!!#ParalympicsGB 🥈 pic.twitter.com/8rXqeuwf4L
— ParalympicsGB (@ParalympicsGB) September 7, 2024
Hewett digs deep to hold serve and make it 1-1 in the second. A fourth double fault of the match from Hewett had given Oda break point but the left-hander couldn’t take it. Worth pointing out that the last six games have been shared so it’s much more of an even contest.
Oda keeps coming up with the big shots and he roars to the heavens as another looped winner secures the opening game of set two after Hewett hinted at a break.
Time for another photo gallery. Some golden moments for ParalympicsGB on Day 10 and check out Colombian athlete Mauricio Valencia baring his fanged teeth.
Oda smashes a backhand that clips the line and that gives him the first set 6-2. Hewett is really up against it here although there were some better signs after he fell 4-0 down.
Better signs from Alfie Hewett. It’s a second straight break of the Oda serve and he cuts the gap to 5-2 to remain alive in this first set. A little clap from Oda as Hewett closed out the game with a lovely winner down the line.
Hewett gets on the board with a brilliant cross-court winner to break Oda in game five. But it proves a fleeting moment of joy as his Japanese opponent immediately breaks back to lead 5-1. Oda will serve for the first set.
Diary time with Paul MacInnes. Our correspondent enjoys an empty Champs Élysées, watches a legend and gets a lift from Paris’s volunteers.
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Oda clenches his fist and Hewett grimaces as the current French Open champion hits two winners to open game four after holding serve again. A Hewett double fault gives Oda three break points and he takes the second to lead 4-0. This is all very one-sided so far.
Back to the equestrian where GB’s Georgia Wilson eventually takes the silver aboard Sakura, whom she described earlier as the “best horse in the world”.
SILVER for Georgia Wilson and Sakura in the Individual Freestyle Grade II
— ParalympicsGB (@ParalympicsGB) September 7, 2024
Wonderful stuff from Château de Versailles 👏#ParalympicsGB 🥈 pic.twitter.com/bcWejYWsSx
Hewett loses his opening serve to love but that was more down to Oda’s brilliance than anyting to do with his injury. From 0-30, the Japanese teenager larrups two winners to race into a 2-0 lead.
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Good news. Alfie Hewett has returned to the arena. That break was about 10 minutes long. Was it something and nothing? We’ll find out shortly as the Brit prepares to serve at 0-1 down in the first.
As the break in play continues in the men’s wheelchair tennis, the crowd on Philippe-Chatrier are now entertaining themselves with a sing song. Thankfully Cliff Richard isn’t at Roland Garros. Or would the French bring out Johnny Hallyday?
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Bit of a concern in the tennis for Alfie Hewett. The Brit winced when hitting a winner at deuce in the first game and has now gone for physio on what looked like a groin injury. Oda isn’t too happy about a medical time out so soon.
Quick plug for our live coverage of the third Test from the Oval. England made 325 all out in their first innings, while Sri Lanka are 48-1 in reply. Rob Smyth will tell you more.
Oda, who only turned 18 in June, has won four of the last six grand slams. He’s a huge, huge talent. Hewett wins the toss and opts to receive in what proves a bit of an epic first game with the 26-year-old Brit having a couple of break points before Oda holds.
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Welcome back to Court Philippe-Chatrier where Alfie Hewett is about to take on big rival Tokito Oda in the final of the men’s wheelchair tennis. The Japanese star has won both their two previous matches on clay just to note. They last met on that surface in the French Riviera Open, Oda winning 7-5 6-3.
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I’m now on the Horse & Hound website – didn’t Hugh Grant work for them once? – and doing some background reading on Georgia Wilson. The Brit is now assured of her second medal of the Games – this one in the equestrian freestyle – as she sits in gold medal position with just two riders to go.
Just checking Alfie Hewett’s profile on the official Paralympics site. Here are some highlights.
Hobbies: Supporting English football team Norwich City
Ambition: To win a gold medal in doubles at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Tick! – ed)
Start: He took up the sport at age seven in 2005 at his local club in Norwich, England. (Athlete, 23 Aug 2024)
Reason: “To overcome my disability through making new friends, being active again and learning new skills in a sport that I hadn’t played before.” (Athlete, 23 Aug 2024)
Hero: Japanese wheelchair tennis player Shingo Kunieda. (Athlete, 23 Aug 2024)
Influence: His grandfather David Hooper. “[He had] many health issues, terminal cancer being one of them. His spirit and determination I admire.” (Athlete, 23 Aug 2024, 12 Jun 2016)
Philosophy: “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” (Athlete, 23 Aug 2024; X profile, 13 Dec 2023)
It’s bronze for Argentina in the men’s wheelchair tennis. On his second match point, Gustavo Fernandez defeats Spain’s Martin de la Puente 6-1 6-2, sealing victory with a forehand cross-court winner. The two men embrace after an entertaining contest that lasted an hour and eight minutes.
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The ParalympicsGB medal ticker has clicked on to 108. It’s thanks to a bronze medal from Mari Durward-Akhurst in the Para Dressage.
It’s BRONZE for @MariParaRider in the Individual Freestyle Event Grade I on her Paralympic debut! #ParalympicsGB 🥉 pic.twitter.com/ct0aRAM4Kb
— ParalympicsGB (@ParalympicsGB) September 7, 2024
Alfie Hewett may not have to wait long. Fernandez leads 5-1 in the second set and is just a game away.
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Emotional scenes in the table tennis a little earlier as Ukraine’s Viktor Didukh defeated China’s Zhao Shuai in the men’s singles MS8 competition. It went to a Game 5 which Didukh won 11-8 before leaping around the table, dropping to the ground and bursting into floods of tears. They continued to flow as he held the Ukraine flag up the crowd. That was Ukraine’s 18th gold of the Games, putting them eighth in the Medal Table.
Didukh was was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, resulting in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. He lost in the final to Shuai at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
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Alfie Hewett’s wheelchair tennis singles final follows the bronze medal match between Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina and Spain’s Martin de la Puente. Fernandez raced through the first set, winning it 6-1, and is serving at 1-0 in the second after an early break.
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Some great pictures in this gallery from yesterday (Day 9 of 10). It includes GB’s Alfie Hewett, who returns to Roland Garros this afternoon for the men’s singles final after he captured gold in the doubles alongside Gordon Reid on Friday. Hewett is up against Japan’s Tokito Oda, part of the defeated duo in yesterday’s singles.
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GB v USA basketball showdown For the first time since 1996, Great Britain have made it to the men’s wheelchair basketball final, where they will face the double defending Paralympic champions in the shape of the United States. oth teams won three out of three in the group stage, romped through the quarter-finals and then dominated in their semi-finals, GB thrashing Germany 71-43 and the US equally emphatic in a 80-43 demolition of Canada The British team won bronze in 2004, 2008, 2016 and 2020 – and came fourth at the London 2012 Games. Saturday evening offers the men’s team a chance to finally end the long search for gold.
British stars of track and field
Hannah Cockroft will be favourite for tonight’s T34 800m final – the two-time defending Paralympic champion is unbeaten in the event at any major championships in the last 10 years. ‘Hurricane Hannah’ is going for her ninth career gold, and then has her wedding to teammate Nathan Maguire coming up in three weeks. Also defending a long unbeaten streak is Aled Sion Davies – the shot putter has not been beaten in the F63 category since taking the bronze medal at London 2012.
It’s not too late – well, let’s be honest, it’s nearly too late – to sign up for this. Sign up now and get Sunday’s offering (final day of the Games). You might even get today’s; I’m not too sure how it works. Main message: sign up.
Set your alarms (8.30pm) for this one later: GB v USA in the final of the men’s wheelchair basketball.
Ade Adepitan has been writing for the Guardian throughout the Games and let’s just say he’s pretty pumped for this one. Some great overall perspective too on the wider meaning of the Paralympics.
My three-year-old son has come to these Games and it gives me extra pride to know that his first experience of a major global sporting event is the Paralympics. He’s learned the word Paralympian before the word Olympian and he sees no difference between the greatness of the athletes in both Games. This is where we need to be at. Now, just bring home that basketball gold.
The ParalympicsGB medal count has risen from 101 overnight to 107 this morning. We’ve brought you the three golds (Fin Graham, Emma Wiggs and Charlotte Henshaw) and two silvers (Dave Phillipson and Hope Gordon) but there’s also been a bronze in the equestrian. Hats off to Sophie Wells.
It’s BRONZE for @sophiewells90 and LJT Egebjerggards Samoa in the Individual Freestyle Event - Grade V!#ParalympicsGB 🥉 pic.twitter.com/xjezHDBfjU
— ParalympicsGB (@ParalympicsGB) September 7, 2024
Charlotte Henshaw and Hope Gordon reflect on their 1-2 in the water. “I’m so pleased for us both to be on the podium,” says Henshaw. “To share this moment together is unbelievable.”
A very tearful Gordon is struggling to get her words out. “We wanted those top two spots so badly. I think we’re so strong because of the support we get on and off the water.”
Both are racing again tomorrow so celebrations will be put on hold for now.
Henshaw leads 1-2 in VL3 va’a
Gold No. 45 followed soon after as Charlotte Henshaw produced a fast start and led all the way to win the women’s VL3 va’a.
The 37-year-old, who claimed the KL2 kayak title in Tokyo, won in 55.7 seconds, with compatriot Hope Gordon taking silver, 0.88 seconds behind. And it didn’t end there for GB at Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium this morning as Dave Phillipson delivered silver in the men’s KL2 kayak, clocking 42.43 seconds.
It’s GOLD for @CHenshawGB
— ParalympicsGB (@ParalympicsGB) September 7, 2024
Canoe believe it! A Va’a 1-2 for #ParalympicsGB in Paris 🥇 pic.twitter.com/SkzjFthAge
Wiggs retains women's VL2 va’a crown
And gold medal 44 for Paralympics GB came as canoeist Emma Wiggs followed up the cycling success by retaining the women’s VL2 va’a title to win her third Paralympic gold.
The 44-year-old finished the 200-metre course in 58.88 seconds, while Jeanette Chippington - the oldest member of GB’s squad at 54 - was fourth.
It’s GGGOOOOOLLLDD again for Emma Wiggs in the Va’a!
— ParalympicsGB (@ParalympicsGB) September 7, 2024
What a morning in the Para canoeing so far for #ParalympicsGB 🥇 pic.twitter.com/Nt9ExVmU7e
Graham takes cycling gold in C1-3 road race
You look away for a short while and Paralympics have increased their gold haul from 42 to 45!
Let’s start with cycling where Fin Graham sprinted to victory in the men’s C1-3 road race earlier this morning. Here’s the report of a dramatic finish in Clichy-sous-Bois as the Brit claimed gold by a whisker from France’s Thomas Peyroton-Dartet.
Preamble
It’s been a gold-laden Games for ParalympicsGB and as we come to the final weekend in Paris, the medal table makes remarkable reading. The 100-medal barrier has been smashed and GB’s haul of 42 golds is now one more than the team managed in Tokyo last time.
And let’s hope it doesn’t stop there. More medals are up for grabs today, including Alfie Hewett in the men’s wheelchair singles final. After his gold alongside Gordon Reid in the doubles yesterday, this could quite the two days for Hewett, who had previously never sampled Paralympics gold despite a string of grand slam titles.
Another opportunity presents itself tonight in the must-watch wheelchair basketball between GB and the United States while on the track Hannah Cockroft will be favourite for the T34 800m final.
And, turning to the present, there’s plenty of action to get stuck into right now of course. Allons-y!
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