Hannah Cockroft defended her 100-metre T34 title at the Rio Paralympics, beginning her bid for triple gold in style. Elizabeth Marks, meanwhile, broke a world record at the Games on Saturday.
'HURRICANE' HANNAH WINS COMFORTABLY
Cockroft is eyeing three golds in Rio and she made the ideal start, defending the 100m T34 crown she won in London. The British wheelchair racer pulled away from her rivals to win in 17.42 seconds – a Paralympic record.Fellow Brit Kare Adenegan, who set a personal-best time, and American Alexa Halko won silver and bronze respectively. Now, Cockroft turns her attentions to the 400m and 800m.
ELIZABETH SETS NEW MARK
American Marks was dominant in winning the women's 100m breaststroke SB7 final in a world-record time. The sergeant set a time of one minute, 28.13 seconds to easily beat Jessica Long and Lisa Den Braber.
PARATRIATHLON MAKES DEBUT
One of two new sports added to the Games, Paratriathlon made its debut on Saturday. The men's PT1, PT2 and PT4 took place, won by Dutchman Jetze Plat, Brit Andrew Lewis and German Martin Schulz respectively.For Lewis, he said he would celebrate with his first beer in two years.
QUOTES OF THE DAY
"The jelly was in my suitcase. It [plane] goes up and it exploded. Strawberry all over my clothes. At least my clothes smelled nice," - a setback for Cockroft, who had to change her pre-race plan of eating jelly.
"I had no idea [I was dominating]. I can't see when I am swimming. About 25 metres in I have no idea where anybody else is. As long as I feel pressure on my hands I know it is going well. I was just hoping for the best and putting everything I had into it," - Marks was unaware just how well she was going.
COMING UP
Richard Whitehead will be aiming to go back-to-back in the 200m T42, an event in which he broke the world record in London. Meanwhile, the men's and women's 100m freestyle S8 finals take place. Long, Maddison Elliott and Stephanie Millward are expected to contend in the women's.
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