Stef Reid wins long jump silver

Reid competed for Canada at the Beijing Games (Getty Images)

Stef Reid set two new Paralympic records as she leapt to long jump silver at the Olympic Stadium today.

The 27-year-old, who lost her right leg below the knee in a boating accident aged 16, launched herself out to 5.28 metres only to be denied F42/44 gold by a whisker.

Reid, who competed for Canada at the Beijing Games, actually recorded a distance 90cm further than gold medallist Kelly Cartwright of Australia.

But with points rather than distances determining the final standings in the combined class event, she finished an agonising seven points adrift.

Reid, a F44 athlete, finished with 1023 points, while her Australian rival, a double above-the-knee amputee and therefore in the F42 class, achieved a world record for 1030 points.

Reid, who was born to British parents in New Zealand and grew up in Toronto, broke the Paralympic record with successive jumps, following up her second round leap of 5.08m with her very next attempt.

The medal completed a remarkable comeback for the athlete, who suffered a stress fracture to her back last autumn and missed almost the whole season.

Reid savoured her silver medal, telling Channel 4: "There is something to be said for putting your heart and soul into it.

"Even though it is a silver medal, I still feel amazing about it. I can't wait to get on the podium.

"The silver is going to motivate me to go out there and train hard. I've still got more in the tank.

"It's a fabulous feeling to know you have given it everything you can. I'll be ready to fight again next time."

PA