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Day 1: London Paralympic Games

Two medals for Great Britain on day 1 with Gold and world record for Sarah Storey and a Silver for Mark Colbourne making his debut at the Paralympic Games

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From JAC Sport – Media

Mark Colbourne wins Great Britain’s first Paralympic medal as he takes Silver in the 1Km Time Trial on Day 1 of London Paralympic Games!

Mark Colbourne with Silver medal. Photo: JAC Sport – Kelkel 

Mark Colbourne has achieved what would have been thought impossible three years ago after breaking his back in a paragliding accident; winning a silver medal in the 1km Time Trial, setting a new personal best time and gaining Great Britain’s first medal of the London 2012 Paralympic Games!

Mark was the penultimate rider to take to the boards for the C1-C3 1km time trial, and despite the pressure of it being his first Paralympic event he looked every inch the focussed, determined athlete ready to give it his all. He looked the epitome of calm as he took to the starting block and didn’t disappoint the crowd as he rode a very fast kilometre, finishing with a factored time of 1.08.471 in second place. Li Zhang Yu of China won gold with a C1 world record of 1.05.021.

Despite knowing he was guaranteed a place on the podium, he still had the nerve-wracking wait for final rider Rodrigo Fernandez Lopez from Argentina to race before he’d know whether he had won a silver or a bronze Paralympic medal on home soil.

Mark Colbourne. Photo: JAC Sport – Kelkel 

Lopez started well but finished with a time of 1.10.689 seconds, confirming Mark’s hopes of securing his first ever Paralympic silver medal in front of a home crowd. His elation didn’t stop there, as shortly after finishing he was told he’d not only beaten his personal best time for the kilometre, but he had also won Great Britain’s first Paralympic medal of the games so far!

Speaking after his silver-medal win, Mark recalls how he felt after his paragliding accident in 2009, “I didn’t even know if I would ever walk again due to the damage that had been caused to my spine. It was a very slow and worrying time for me and my family. We have worked for the last eight months towards this and big thanks to all the coaches who got me in the best shape possible. I’m very happy”

The silver medal has certainly given him the belief that he can go for gold in C1 3k Pursuit tomorrow

Also: Gold for Sarah Storey
After having qualified fastest in a time quicker than Olympic Gold medallist Joanna Rowsell won the World Cup in at the Olympic Test event in February, Storey followed up with a superb display by catching her opponent Anna Harkowska of Poland after six-and-a-half of the 12 laps to triumph to rapturous applause from the 6,000-capacity partisan crowd. The 34-year-old from Manchester won her eighth Paralympic Games title and third as a cyclist in a career which began as a 14-year-old swimmer in Barcelona in 1992.

Speaking after her victory, Sarah said: “I always thought that if I could get off to a great start it would set up the week and hopefully that’s the case. To get the gold medal is a dream come true.” With three events still to come, Sarah could equal Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson’s record for a British woman of 11 Paralympic golds.  ”It’s a bit of a stage race for me this week. It’s important not to look too far ahead” Sarah concluded.

Friday’s action resumes with Aileen McGlynn and Lora Turnham in the b one-kilometre time-trial and Jody Cundy and Jon Allen Buttwerworth take part in the 1km Time Trial.

 

RESULTS

Women’s C5 Individual Pursuit

Final

Gold/Silver
1. STOREY Sarah (caught)
2. HARKOWSKA Anna (Poland)

Bronze
3. SOUTHORN Fiona (New Zealand) 3:55.867
4. LANE Crystal Great Britain 4:02.773

Qualification
1. STOREY Sarah Great Britain 3:32.170 Q WR
2. HARKOWSKA Anna Poland 3:48.885 Q
3. SOUTHORN Fiona New Zealand 3:52.695 Q
4. LANE Crystal Great Britain 3:59.220 Q
5. SCHUBLE Jennifer United States of America 4:00.702
6. CROWLEY Kelly United States of America 4:02.825
7. NEIMANAS Greta United States of America 4:03.200
8. BRACHTENDORF Kerstin Germany 4:12.245
9. TRETOLA Sara Switzerland 4:14.950
10. SCHILLIG Annina Switzerland 4:21.481

Men’s C123 1km Time Trial Final

1 LI Zhang Yu People’s Republic of China 1:05.021 WR
2 COLBOURNE Mark Great Britain 1:08.471
3 GRAF Tobias Germany 1:09.979 WR
4 KENNY Darren Great Britain 1:10.203
5 LIANG Guihua People’s Republic of China 1:10.211
6 XIE Hao People’s Republic of China 1:10.229
7 LOPEZ Rodrigo Fernando Argentina 1:10.689
8 OBYDENNOV Alexsey Russian Federation 1:10.995
9 WADDON Richard Great Britain 1:11.394
10 BERENYI Joseph United States of America 1:11.649
11 NEL Jaco South Africa 1:12.405
12 McDOUGALL Brayden Canada 1:12.683
13 KOBLASA Ivo Czech Republic 1:12.730
14 BOSMANS Kris Belgium 1:12.825
15 NICHOLAS David Australia 1:13.087
16 SMYTH Enda Ireland 1:13.890
17 JIN Yong Sik Republic of Korea 1:14.061
18 GALVIS BECERRA Alvaro Colombia 1:14.275
19 TEUBER Michael Germany 1:14.425
20 FUJITA Masaki Japan 1:14.998
21 STARK Michal Czech Republic 1:15.755
22 WARIAS Steffen Germany 1:15.828
23 SMITH Nathan New Zealand 1:16.159
24 Spain MENDEZ Juan Jose 1:16.743
25 Canada BOLDT Arnold 1:17.304
26 Canada MILLEY Jaye 1:17.631
27 Venezuela GARRIDO MARQUEZ Victor Hugo 1:18.089
28 United States of America ZAHN Anthony 1:23.312

 

 

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