Throwers on the podium with hat-trick of bronzes
There were three bronze medals for Britain's Paralympians in the field events at the morning session in the Olympic Stadium yesterday. For shot putter Rob Womack, the inspiration came courtesy of his room-mate.
The Yorkshireman is sharing a flat in the athletes' village with Aled Davies, who won a bronze medal in the F42/44 shot on Friday.
"Aled came back with his medal last night and I had it round my neck," Womack said. "I thought, 'I want this medal'."
The 41-year-old claimed one to match thanks to a personal-best throw of 11.34m in the third round.
Iran's Jalil Bagheri Jeddi produced a Paralympic record of 11.63m to take gold, with Karol Kozun of Poland just 2cm ahead of Womack in the silver-medal position.
For Gemma Prescott, the sight of Richard Whitehead's winning 200m run on the track provided timely motivation in the T32 club throw. "I managed to see Richard's race midway through the competition," she said. "That was inspiring."
Prescott, from Warrington, threw 20.50m to finish third behind Tunisia's Maroua Ibrahimi, who landed a world record of 23.43m to take gold.
"It was an amazing experience," Prescott said. "I've never been in an event like that before, with so much support."
Claire Williams maintained the bronze-medal momentum with a 39.63m throw in the F11/12 Discus.
"I'm ecstatic," she said. "I've had so many ups and downs since I started, but this has made it all worthwhile.
"It's made up for the last 12 years and it makes me want to go on to Rio. This medal means so much. I couldn't be happier.
"My little girl gave me a GB flag and she was beaming."
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