Paralympics: Husband and wife Neil and Lora Fachie each claim gold on medal-filled day in Tokyo
Husband and wife cyclists Neil and Lora Fachie each claimed Paralympic gold in world-record fashion on a medal-filled day for Great Britain in Tokyo.
ParalympicsGB also saw phenomenal success in the mixed C1-5 team sprint on what is shaping up to be an unforgettable day, which placed Great Britain second on the medals table after China.
British swimmer Maisie Summers-Newton claimed her second gold of the Tokyo games as she outshone idol Ellie Simmonds. There were other successes in swimming, with the mixed S14 4x100m freestyle relay team winning gold.
In Athletics, sprinters Thomas Young and Sophie Hahn helped GB win more gold medals in T38 100 metres races.
Cycling
Scottish rider Neil Fachie and pilot Matt Rotherham powered home in 58.038 seconds to snatch top spot on the podium in the men’s B 1000m time trial just ahead of compatriot James Ball, who secured silver with pilot Lewis Stewart.
Liverpool-born Lora Fachie then secured an extraordinary story at the Izu Velodrome as she and partner Corrine Hall defeated Ireland’s Katie-George Dunlevy in the final of the women’s B 3000m individual pursuit in an unprecedented time of 3:19.560.
Glory for the Fachie household was far from the end of the drama for ParalympicsGB as the golden trio of Kadeena Cox, Jaco Van Gass and Jody Cundy subsequently overhauled China on the final lap in the 750m team sprint.
They crossed the line in 47.579 secs, just over a tenth of a second ahead of the Chinese team, with Spain taking bronze.
Cox and Van Gass now have two golds apiece at this Games, while former swimmer Cundy claimed the eighth title of his illustrious Paralympic career.
In addition to the trio of GB golds and silver for Ball, there was also a bronze for debutant Sophie Unwin during an extraordinary period of action.
Unwin and tandem partner Jenny Holl clinched third place behind Lora Fachie and Dunlevy in a time of 3:23.446 by beating Belgium’s Griet Hoet in a head-to-head.
Earlier, Neil Fachie shaved 1.2 seconds off his global best to take the top honour, pushing Ball and his pilot Lewis Stewart into silver following their pace-setting ride of 59.503 secs.
In the process, the 37-year-old picked up his third Paralympic medal in the event, having picked up gold at London 2012 and silver at Rio 2016.
“We knew today was a big day for the team. I’m losing my voice here,” he told Channel 4.
“We were the first medal ride, we had to deliver, not just did we do it but to see our team-mate (Ball) get the silver as well, breaking the world record…
“Then to watch my wife go and win gold, it was just unreal. Wow, what a day. You never forget this.
“We have each had our own success at previous Games, we have never both won gold at a Games before. We fought for five years for this moment and we are so glad we can share it with you”.
Lora Fachie’s triumph was her third Paralympic title, following two golds in Brazil five years ago.
The 32-year-old carved around eight seconds off her previous best.
“I’ve never successfully defended a title before so I’m just delighted and it’s been an incredible day,” she said.
“For me, it’s been a childhood dream to be a world record holder and I now am thanks to this one (Corrine Hall)”.
Swimming
19-year-old Maisie Summers-Newton took the SB6 100m breaststroke title with a Paralympic record and personal best of one minute 32.34 seconds.
GB’s opening-ceremony flagbearer Simmonds finished fourth.
China’s Daomin Liu took silver and American Sophia Herzog claimed bronze, clocking 1min 33.30secs and 1min 36.06secs respectively.
Summers-Newton, who is taking part in her first Paralympics, picked up her first gold on Thursday, taking the SM6 200m individual medley title from five-time gold medallist Simmonds, who came fifth.
The Northampton swimmer said: “I’d hoped for the first one in the individual medley but to get two, it’s just what dreams are made of isn’t it, really?
“Just incredible obviously, I have no words. I don’t think this one has sunk in as much as the medley because I really, really wanted it, so this one is just the icing on the cake definitely.”
Summers-Newton and Simmonds are set to compete together again in the S6 400m freestyle on Thursday.
Britain’s mixed S14 4x100m freestyle relay team - Reece Dunn, Bethany Firth, Jessica-Jane Applegate and Jordan Catchpole - also took home gold with a world-record time of 3:40.63.
And there was silver for Grace Harvey in the women’s SB5 100m breaststroke. She clocked 1:42.22.
Athletics
Croydon-born Thomas Young, who grew up idolising Usain Bolt, pulled off a personal best of 10.94 seconds in the men’s 100m T38 race to shock fastest qualifier Zhu Dening of China.
The 21-year-old Paralympics debutant was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis shortly after London 2012, a genetic disorder of the nervous system which affects his coordination.
“It’s the best feeling in the world. The time is a bonus, I just wanted to win but having that personal best just makes it even better,” said Young.
“I wanted to be a dominant force in this sport, I know Paris (2024) is next but I’m already thinking about Brisbane (2028). Any kid growing up in this sport was inspired by Usain Bolt and he’s got three golds and I’d like that too.”
Sophie Hahn, who has cerebral palsy, ensured double British delight in the women's race as she equalled her own world record of 12.38secs in the heats.
The 24-year-old from Nottingham held off a strong surge from Colombian silver medallist Darian Faisury Jimenez Sanchez.
Fellow Britons Olivia Breen and Ali Smith finished sixth and eight respectively in 13.13 and 13.24, while Germany’s Lindy Ave won bronze.
“The build up was quite tough with all the expectation but I tried to stay calm and focused,” said Hahn.
“That’s definitely that hardest I’ve ever been pushed. She was hot on my heels and I really thought it would be a photo finish but to see my name was absolutely incredible.
“I saw Thomas and that really spurred me on. That’s an incredible time to go and I’m so pleased for him.”
Table tennis
Three bronze medals were secured in the table tennis on Saturday - Paul Karabardak in the MS6 table tennis final - his first Paralympic medal at the fourth time of asking, Tom Matthews who took bronze in the men's single MS1 and Jack Hunter-Spivey who clinched third place in the men's single MS5.
Meanwhile, Will Bayley won the men's singles class 7 to secure a medal and his place in the gold medal match against China's Yan Shuo, scheduled for Sunday.
PowerliftingPowerlifter Micky Yule also took home a bronze medal.
Yule was an engineer with the Airborne Brigade and did powerlifting in the British Army.
After he lost his legs in Afghanistan, Yule threw himself into the sport and used it as part of his rehabilitation.
Guy Taylor, senior board member for British Weight Lifting, said: “I’m over the moon (about his medal), because it’s not easy.
"There’s been setbacks along the way, he had coronavirus just before – he always had hurdles thrown in front of him, but he always overcame them.
“Working my day job with TASS, athletes have been through our programme that have won hundreds of Olympic and Paralympic medals, but this one’s probably one of the ones that affected me most, knowing where he’s come from and what he’s had to go through, it’s just brilliant.”
Wheelchair fencing
Dimitri Coutya won another bronze medal in the men's foil B event, after winning against Russia's Albert Kamalov in the bronze medal bout.
It comes after two other bronzes he won: in the men's individual epee (category B) on Thursday and in team epee on Friday.
Wheelchair rugby
ParalympicsGB's wheelchair rugby team are guaranteed a medal as they went through to the gold medal match, set to take place on Sunday.
The team beat Japan 55-49 in the semi-final.