Paralympics LIVE: Great Britain’s Brock Whiston wins silver on Games debut at Paris 2024
ParalympicsGB’s Jaco van Gass, Lizzi Jordan and Tully Kearney also won golds on day two
The Paralympic Games kicked off in fine fashion on Thursday as the action got underway at Paris 2024.
And day two was another golden day for Paralympics GB who added to their medal tally with incredible performances in the pool and on the velodrome track.
Blaine Hunt started the medal rush with a silver in the men’s C4-5 1000m time trial at the velodrome before Matt Robertson won bronze in the men’s C2 3000m individual pursuit. Jaco van Gass then defeated GB teammate Finlay Graham in the C3 3000m individual pursuit to claim ParalympicsGB’s first gold medal of the day with Graham also adding a silver.
Elizabeth Jordon and pilot Dannielle Khan were also victorious as they won Britain’s fourth gold of the Games win the women’s B 1000m time trial while Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl also won bronze.
In the pool, Tully Kearney added to the gold medley she won in the women’s S5 200m freestyle yesterday by triumphing in the 100m event this afternoon and Maisie Summers-Newton defended her title in the women’s SM6 200m medley.
Elsewhere, Zachary Shaw qualified for the final of the men’s T12 100m, while team-mate Eden Rainbow-Cooper also progressed in the women’s T54 5000m.
Follow all the action, latest results and medals from Paris 2024 in our live blog below:
Can Great Britain win gold?
More chances for a gold medal for Great Britain.
In the women’s B 1000m time trial Brit’s Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl have secured themselves a medal but don’t know the colour yet.
Australian pari Jessica Gallagher and pilot Caitlin Ward currently sit in first place with only Lizzi Jordan and Danni Khan (both part of ParalympicsGB) left to ride.
Can they beat the Aussies into the gold medal position?
Van Gass on winning gold:
“I’m overwhelmed, delighted and just generally glad it’s over to be very honest. It’s been a rollercoaster to this moment.
“I rode a average qualifier. I know I did well time-wise but in terms of how I execute the ride was not perfect.
“I knew I had something to work on for the final, it was just whether the legs would be there or not. It paid off and I’m just elated to be here.”
Daphne Schrager tells of ‘surreal’ moment Jackie Chan presented her silver medal
Paralympic cyclist Daphne Schrager described the “surreal” moment she hugged actor Jackie Chan after he presented her silver medal, saying she will celebrate her performance with coffee and a croissant.
Schrager secured Britain’s maiden podium place in France by clinching silver in the women’s C1-3 3000m individual pursuit on Thursday, finishing second to China’s Xiaomei Wang in the final.
Schrager, 23, who grew up on a farm in Wiltshire, said she “gave everything” in the final and was “immensely proud” of her performance, adding that coming second gives her the “fire” to win in the next Games.
Daphne Schrager tells of ‘surreal’ moment Jackie Chan presented her silver medal
Bly Twomey wins bronze to become Great Britain’s youngest table tennis medallist
Schoolgirl Bly Twomey became Great Britain’s youngest Paralympic table tennis medallist by winning doubles bronze alongside Fliss Pickard.
A resounding 3-0 quarter-final victory over Norwegian pair Nora Korneliussen and Jenny Helene Slettum guaranteed the 14-year-old a podium place in the WD14 classification event.
Defeat to Chinese pair Wenjuan Huang and Yucheng Jin in the evening session prevented Twomey and 30-year-old Pickard, who both have cerebral palsy, progressing to the gold medal match.
Bly Twomey wins bronze to become Great Britain’s youngest table tennis medallist
Jaco van Gass wins gold in C3 individual pursuit!
Jaco van Gass defends his paralympic title and has beaten GB teammate Finlay Graham. Van Gass crosses the line in a time of 3:18.460 and beats his opponent by four seconds or so.
Van Gass claims the gold and Graham takes silver, just as they did in Tokyo.
Van Gass v Graham
And they’re off!
Finlay Graham is the quicker starter but by the end of the first lap, Jaco van Gass has reeled him back in and opened up a lead of around half a second.
Van Gass has started quickly and gets over a second ahead by the 1000m mark. Eight laps to go and there’s work to for for Graham...
Van Gass v Graham
Jaco van Gass is the reigning paralympic champion and is a master at racing over 3000m. That’s 12 laps of the velodrome track and is a repeat of the Tokyo 2020 final.
Van Gass won that race and Graham took silver. Both men are guaranteed medals in this event but only one can walk away with gold.
Who will it be?
Van Gass v Graham
Coming up is a blockbuster final in the men’s C3 3,000m individual pursuit as Great Britain teammates Jaco van Gass and Finlay Graham face off against each other for the gold medal.
It’s a repeat of the final in Tokyo, where Van Gass emerged the victor with a world record time of 3:17.593.
Both he and Graham beat that time in qualifying this morning, with Graham recording a time 3:17.305 before Van Gass beat it by almost two seconds for a time of 3:15.488.
Robertson reacts to winning bronze medal in the men’s C2 individual pursuit:
“I didn’t know I was going to get here a couple of years ago. I was over the moon with the call up and to get here and be able to do that – I’m just in shock right now.
“I looked across with six or four to go and I saw I was in front so I thought ‘head down, go’. I know I shouldn’t have done but inside of me I was thinking ‘I’ve got this’.
“To be a medallist in this team is incredible and it proves that the programme works and the support behind us works.
“I’ve come up from foundation and it’s just great to achieve that. I’ve been with my coach for seven years now and it’s so nice to deliver the performance that I know I’m capable of for him.”
Tully Kearney earns ‘redemption’ as GB lands three medals, two golds and one world record in the pool
Tully Kearney could be forgiven for getting a bit bored of winning things the hard way.
Kearney thought her Paralympic dreams were over after suffering a head injury last year that affected her memory and left her contemplating her future in the sport.
Vertigo kept her out the pool while she was then hit with the news she’d be reclassified for these Games, meaning she needed to compete with less impaired athletes than her previous rivals.
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