Super Saturday for ParalympicsGB

In a tight finish, Ellie Simmonds beat her rival Victoria Arlen of the United States in a world record time of 5 minutes, 19.17 seconds [see image below].

The Aquatic Centre roared its support for the 17-year-old who defended her Paralympic title in an excrutiatingly close race. The build-up to the S6 400m freestyle race was marred by controversy as the American was subjected to a late reclassification ruling.

Simmonds couldn’t contain her emotions after winning, crying tears of joy after keeping the title she won as a 13-year-old in Beijing.

Two of Britain’s gold medals were won at the velodrome, following yesterday’s cycling success. Sarah Storey won her second gold at this year’s Games, taking her own personal medal tally to nine – four of which she won in swimming events.

Hours earlier, her husband Barney cycled to gold in the tandem 1km time-trial as pilot to Neil Fachie, who is partially sighted. The pair clocked a world record of 1 minute 01.351 seconds.

The crowd in the velodrome raised the roof roaring Storey to victory just two days after she won Britain’s first medal in the C5 three-kilometre individual pursuit.

“It’s just incredible. If you move everyone cheers. It feels like your own family has grown by 6,000 people. It was amazing,” she said after the race.
“It’s an incredible venue and I feel so lucky to have won in front of these fans.”

Also at the velodrome, former RAF weapons technician Jon-Allan Butterworth, who lost part of his left arm during a missile attack in Basra in 2007, won silver in the men’s individual C5 pursuit.

‘I saw, I conquered’

Sprinter Richard Whitehead pushed himself to new levels in the T24 200m, winning gold for Britain and beating the world record.

The double-amputee from birth has completed 24 marathons since 2004, but recently proved his success at sprinting, building his upper body weight in order to surpass expectations.

“It’s all about guts and determination,” he said. “Today I came, I saw, I conquered. That was what the two-gun salute was all about – in honour of my hero Chris Hoy.”

After Super Saturday, Britain is second only to China in the Paralympics medals table.

Equestrian gold

Natasha Baker was also among the golds as after winning the first equestrian event at Greenwich Park in her Paralympic Games debut.

Baker, 22, from Uxbridge in Middlesex, contracted transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spine which affects the nerve endings, at 14 months. She fought back her emotions as she triumphed in the Grade II individual championship.

In other events, shooter Matt Skelhon took home silver in the mixed R3-10m air rifle prone-SH1 final. Gemma Prescott in the F32 club throw won bronze, as did Rob Womack, 41, in the shot put and James Bevis in the shooting (SH2 mixed R5-10m air rifle prone).

And after yesterday’s outburst at being disqualified, Jody Cundy proved just what he was capable of taking bronze in C4 4km individual pursuit.

Biggest cheers for last place

Some of the loudest cheers in the Olympic Stadium on Saturday were reserved for a 35-year-old from the east African country Djibouti, who finished almost seven minutes behind the field.

Houssein Omar Hassan finished the race to deafening cheers in last place in 11 minutes 23.50 seconds in the 1,500 metres heat. He had the track to himself as he jogged his final two laps, before receiving a huge standing ovation as he crossed the line, having won over the audience with his determination.

The long distance runner revealed after the race he hurt his ankle at the start and thought about pulling out, but was determined to finish. He is the East African country’s only competitor at the Games.