Paralympics 2021: Aussies add more medals to swimming stockpile
Australia wins more medals in the pool, our wheelchair rugby team survives a scare and a new cult hero emerges.
Paralympics
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Inspired by the mind-blowing performances of their Olympic teammate Kaylee McKeown, Keira Stephens and Katja Dedekind added two more medals to Australia’s swimming stockpile at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Both won bronze medals in the same Tokyo Aquatics Centre pool where McKeown won three golds, with Stephens finishing third in the women’s SB0 100m breaststroke in 1:17.59 then Dedekind third in the women’s S13 100m backstroke final in 1:06.49.
“I‘m ecstatic with that swim. It’s a personal best time for me,” Stephens said.
“I‘ve been working really hard in training, getting some good times from the board.
“So just to do that race makes everything so worth it. And knowing and hoping I made everyone proud at home.”
Stephens and Dedekind both train at the same Queensland Sunshine Coast club as McKeown and said watching her rip up the record books gave the whole Paralympic team a huge boost.
After two days of competition, the Dolphins have won four gold, one silver and five bronze medals.
“It‘s amazing. The team vibe is so good,” Stephens said.
“Everyone‘s really pumping each other up. Yesterday was amazing and I really wanted to add to that medal collection so I’m so happy that I did.
“Kaylee’s achievements really inspired us and made us so excited to get in the pool. She’s such a hardworking, humble girl and we just all wanted to do her proud and the club proud and everyone back home.”
It comes as Australia’s wheelchair rugby has survived a massive scare to remain in the hunt for the medals at the Tokyo Paralympics.
The two-time defending champions were in danger of missing out on the playoffs after losing their opening match to Denmark but stayed in contention after scraping past France 50-48, with Shae Graham among the tryscorers after becoming the first female to play for the Steelers.
After two days of competition, Australia is in fourth place overall with six gold, two silver and six bronze medals, and tipped to win close to 100 in total by the time the Games end.
One of those could come from Australia’s new favourite tennis table player Ma Lin, who has made it through to the men’s individual quarter-finals without dropping a set.
The Chinese-born Ma Lin has become something of a cult hero after News Corp revealed how his right arm was bitten off by a brown bear when he was a child.
The incredible story about how he survived the attack then later transferred allegiances to Australia has gone global with media outlets all over the world playing catch up but there doesn’t appear to be any danger of him getting distracted by his instant fame.
Undefeated in Tokyo, Ma Lin has been a model of composure and precision since donning the green and gold in the C9 division by romping to three impressive victories.
“Everything feels perfect, I am in good form and in a good mood,” he said.
Australia had mixed fortunes in the wheelchair basketball competitions.
The men beat Iran 81-39 but the women lost 77-58 to Germany.
AUSTRALIA MOVES BACK TO TOP OF MEDALS TABLE
Australia moved back to the top of the medals table after track cyclist Darren Hicks won a silver in the C2 3000m individual pursuit before his teammate David Nicholas collected a bronze in the C3 event at the Izu Velodrome.
Midway through the second day of competition, Australia was sitting at the head of the medals table with six gold, two silver and three bronze medals for a total of 11.
China also has 11 medals in total including six golds but has won less silvers than Australia.
Australia has three more shots at medals on Thursday – all in the pool.
Hicks was promoted to the gold medal race after the pre-race favourite for the pursuit was sensationally disqualified.
Belgian Ewoud Vromant broke the world record in the heats only to be told it didn’t count because he had broken the rules by not sitting down the entire time.
As a result, Hicks – who had initially qualified for the bronze medal race – lined up against Alexandre Leaute for the gold. The Frenchman proved too strong, setting a new world on his way to gold.
Nicholas beat Spain’s Eduardo Santas Asensio for the bronze in the C3 class.
Meanwhile Australia’s new favourite tennis table player Ma Lin is all but through to the men’s quarter-finals.
The Chinese-born Ma Lin has become something of a cult hero after News Corp revealed how his right arm was bitten off by a brown bear when he was a child and he’s been unstoppable on the tables, winning both his matches so far.
On Thursday he beat highly ranked Italian Mohamed Kalem 1-4, 11-6, 11-9 to avenge his loss at Rio in 2016. He still has one round robin match to go but is virtually assured of advancing to the playoff rounds.
“I feel really good, I played really well today because I had a good preparation thanks to our team who had the match analysis for me,” he said.
“Everything feels perfect, I am in good form and in a good mood.”
Australia had mixed fortunes in the wheelchair basketball competitions.
The men beat Iran 81-39 but the women lost 77-58 to Germany.
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