Paralympics 2012

That was funny HTH!

It's a wonderful stadium Frankly!

Medal news so far today:

GOLD!!!

Dani Brown in the compound archery!
Heather Frederikson in the women's 100m backstroke!

SILVER!!  For:

Sophie Wells in the individual freestyle dressage, grade IV!
Deborah Criddle in the individual freestyle dressage, grade III!

BRONZE!  For:

Matt Skelhon in Shooting
The boccia mixed team Daniel Bentley, Nigel Murray, Zoe Robinson and David Smith!
Mel Clarke in the compound archery (beaten 6-4 in the final by teammate Dani Brown!
Ollie Hynd in the men's 100m backstroke!

Well in to all of them! 

I liked this image from the archery today:



Ellie Simmonds is about to go in the women's 50m freestyle shortly but isn't expected to medal.  She said after her heat she would be happy with a PB.  It's too short a distance for her, but who knows with Ellie!  Good luck Ellie!

Bronze for Ellie!!!  Well in Ellie! 

She looks chuffed to bits!

SILVER!!  For Stef Millward.

South Africa's Natalie Du Toit took gold by a huge margin, as expected!  Paralympic legend that girl!

Well in Stef! 

Edit:  well in to 14 year old Amy Marin who came fourth!

Well done Ellie and all our other medal winners. 

Have to say that when I saw the Olympic Stadium I thought it looked terrible, like a cake tin. It was one of a few things that left me sceptical about this summer for London 2012. I have no hesitation now that it is one of the best arenas in the world now. The beauty of an Olympic Stadium, particularly this one, is the legendary status it is escalated to in the matter of a few days. From the moment those chimneys began rising from the ground and the Olympic rings formed in the sky in Danny Boyle's spectacular show I knew this stadium was going to be awesome! What happened on Super Saturday a few weeks ago was unbelievable and it seems that the atmosphere has remained in that arena ever since. To see capacity crowd in these Paralympics is unbelievable! Long may this jewel in the Olympic legacy continue!

And as for Ellie Simmonds - that's surely got to be another name added to the already LENGHTY list for Sports Personality for the end of the year?!

I agree with this. I wasn't convinced by the stadium at first but it quickly won me over once the action started.

I'll never forget Super Saturday. It has to be my favourite ever day of sport outside of football.

I agree with this. I wasn't convinced by the stadium at first but it quickly won me over once the action started.

I'll never forget Super Saturday. It has to be my favourite ever day of sport outside of football.

Likewise.

I first thought the stadium looked terrible but I think I was still comparing it to the Birdcage too much.

BRONZE for Liverpool's David Devine in the men's 1500 breaking his PB by 6 seconds!

Well in LFC fan David! 

And GOLD!!! for Sophie Christiansen in the freestyle dressage, 1a grade!

Well in Sophie! 

Phil Thompson ‏@Phil_Thompson4
David Devine what a run! what a result ,congrats on ur bronze ,u did Liverpool proud

BRONZE for Matt Walker in the men's 50m freestyle!

Well in Matt! 

Come on GB women's basketball team, come on!!!

Unlucky girls, Germany take the win by 55-44.  A really close game up until the final quarter.  Germany go through to the semi finals.

SILVER!!  For Paul Blake in the men's 400m!

Well in Paul, a PB to boot! 

Well done to David Weir! Gold in the 1500M T54.

Oh my word this is one of the best stories of the summer. The Italian Alex Zanardi who drove in formula one during the 1990s but who lost his legs in a horrific crash racing in America in 2001 has won gold in the handcycling competition this afternoon! What a story!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19493510

Alex Zanardi.
Proper legend.
Named my kid after him.

Can't believe I fell asleep before Dave Weir's 1500m win last night 

That is a great picture racer!  What an incredible achievement by Alex Zanardi!

More medals today for GB:

GOLD!!!

Sarah Storey in the women's individual C5 time trial.
Oliver Hynd in the men's 200m individual medley.

SILVER!!

Mark Colbourne in the men's individual C1 time trial.
Karen Darke in the individual H1-2 time trial.
Andy Lapthorne and David Norfolk in the wheelchair men's doubles tennis.
Charlotte Henshaw in the women's 100m breaststroke.

BRONZE!

David Stone in the mixed T1-2 time trial.
Elizabeth Johnson in the women's 100m breaststroke.
Rob Welbourn in the men's 400m freestyle.
Hannah Russell in the women's 100m backstroke.

Well in to everyone of them!

GB's men's basketball team just about beat Turkey in the Q/Finals in a nailbiting finish to the match, winning by 75-70 in the end.  Good luck in the semi's lads!

The sailing events are reaching their finales with GB sailors well placed in a few competitions.

Jonnie Peacock won his heat of the men's 100m T44 in a PB of 11.08, beating Oliveira, the 200m champion from Brazil who finished third.  Oscar Pistorius won the second heat in 11.19 seconds.

And at last, the wheelchair rugby has started!  Defending champions USA beat GB 56-44 in the end in their preliminary match.  GB shaded the first quarter but USA came back out in the second and slowly but surely built a lead.

SILVER for Louise Watkin in the women's 50m! 

Oh my word this is one of the best stories of the summer. The Italian Alex Zanardi who drove in formula one during the 1990s but who lost his legs in a horrific crash racing in America in 2001 has won gold in the handcycling competition this afternoon! What a story!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19493510

Brilliant story. Well done to him.

I remember reading an article about his accident. It was very sad and he was lucky to survive.

SILVER for Bethany Woodward in the women's 200m! 

Three of the four women finalists in the blind 100m are all Brazilian!  The golden girl, Brazilian, Terezinha Guilhermina wins in a new WR of 12.01!

That was a 1-2-3 for Brazil!

James Pearce ‏@Pearcesport
ParalympicsGB now have 100 medals. Look set to pass their target of 103 for the Games before the day is over

100 medals - well done! 

James Pearce ‏@Pearcesport
ParalympicsGB now have 100 medals. Look set to pass their target of 103 for the Games before the day is over

100 medals - well done! 

Woooo!!  That is fantastic!  Well done to all our athletes!

GOLD!!!  For Hannah Cockroft and a new PR in the women's wheelchair 200m!  She won that by miles!

Well in Hannah!