Tokyo Paralympics 2021: Australian swimmers William Martin and Ben Hance add to golden pool haul

Just hours after cash rewards were announced medal-winning Aussie Paralympians in Tokyo, swimmers Will Martin and Ben Hance hit the jackpot with stunning performances.

Gold medallist William Martin. Picture: Getty Images

Australia’s swimmers should rename the Tokyo Aquatics Centre the river of gold.

The Olympic team won a record nine golds in the pool and now the Paralympic swim team have matched their total.

Three more Aussie swimmers won gold medals on Thursday – with the added bonus of getting $20,000 each,

Just hours after the federal government announced that Paralympians who won medals in Tokyo would get the same cash rewards as the Australian Olympic team – Will Martin, Ben Hance and Rachael Watson all hit the jackpot with stunning performances.

Martin – who has emerged as one of the brightest new stars on the Dolphins team – destroyed his own world record and his opponents in the final to win the Class 9 100m butterfly gold.

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Will Martin destroys the field in the Class 9 100m butterfly.

The 20-year-old Queenslander had already broken his own world record during the morning heats but he hacked almost another full second off that time in the final to stop the clock at 57.19 seconds and collect his third gold medal in Tokyo.

He will pocket $20,000 for his two individual wins and $5000 for his split in a winning relay but said he was oblivious to the news, which came earlier in the day when he was resting before his race.

“I haven’t really been keeping up with the media lately. I’ve just been focusing on getting in and getting the job done,” he said.

“It means a fair bit. I’m just pretty grateful for that now that I‘m hearing about it.”

The race for gold was as good as over once they completed the first lap with Martin comfortably ahead so the only real interest was in whether he could break the world record and that too quickly became a mute point as he did it easily even though he felt in a world of pain.

“I didn‘t really have anything left in the tank. I was pretty shocked by the end of it,” he said

“I really thought that I would be able to kind of hold out for the entire time. And then it hit me about the 10 metre mark. That‘s when I kind of hit a brick wall and really started to stink.”

Hance came within a blink of an eye of breaking his world record in 100m backstroke after he won his Class 14 100m backstroke final in 57.75, celebrating by straddling the lane ropes and raising his arms in triumph.

The 21-year-old from the Sunshine Coast broke the Paralympics Games record he set in the morning and just missed the world record of 57.56 he set at the Australian trials in Adelaide

Will Martin has now won three golds in Tokyo.

in June. He now has gold, silver and bronze medals from his first Paralympic appearance.

“I have almost done everything you can at a Games except the world record which is exciting because it will give me reason to get up in the morning and continue,” Hance said.

“It is my best event, I am the world record holder. It wasn’t that tonight, but that’s fine – that’s swimming.”

Watson, who is quadriplegic, won gold in the Class 4 50m freestyle final, defending the title she won in Rio four years ago, despite a troubled preparation.

“I‘m just really overwhelmed. I didn’t even think that was even possible,“ Watson said.

“I didn‘t even know that I had won until my competitor told me because I can’t see the board.

“I didn‘t believe her. At first I thought she was just saying it and it wasn’t until I hopped down that it hit me.

““I just wish everyone could be here. There‘s no crowd and no audience. but I know that everyone at home is supporting me and they’re really proud of me.”

Watson, The Dolphins have now won eight gold, 9 silver and 15 bronze medals at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre – which amounts to an eye-watering total of $445,000 – with one more day of swimming remaining.

“This is such incredible news for our amazing Tokyo Paralympic medallists, who have worked their hearts out to perform the best they can for their country and have inspired and delighted us along the way,” Paralympics Australia President Jock O’Callaghan said.

PA chief executive Lynne Anderson also welcomed the news, saying her organisation didn’t have enough funds and resources to make the payments themselves because everything goes into training programs.

“They have all told stories of the importance of valuing inclusion and equity for people with a disability in sport and society in their post-event interviews,” she said.

AUSSIE LEGEND HURT IN UGLY CRASH

Tough as nails Australian road cyclist Carol Cooke remains in hospital in Japan after her lung collapsed following a heavy crash in treacherous conditions at the Tokyo Paralympics on Thursday.

The 60-year-old was taken to Juntendo University Hospital for scans and X-rays after a horrifying fall during the T1-2 road race at the Fuji International Speedway when she was thrown over the handlebars and into the barriers after another rider slipped on a manhole cover.

The scans showed that her left lung had collapsed so Japanese doctors inserted a chest drain and ordered her to remain in hospital so she can undergo further tests to see whether she has fractured her ribs.

“I’ve lost a lot of skin and I have a few decent bruises but at least nothing seems to be broken,” Cooke said.

Collision in the women's T1-2 road race.

We hope Carol Cooke is ok 🙏#Tokyo2020 | https://t.co/Rmtke0msMjpic.twitter.com/6hJYTWaJzZ

— 7Sport (@7Sport) September 2, 2021

“I really want to say thanks to the people of Japan, they have been so welcoming and the staff here at the hospital have been amazing.”

Already a legend in the sport, Cooke has multiple sclerosis so rides a modified tricycle which has more stability than a two-wheeled bike.

She had already won three gold medals at her previous Paralympic performance and won a silver medal in the time trial in Japan on Tuesday to become the second oldest Australian woman in any sport to win a Paralympic medal.

Despite her fall she is already planning to race at Paris in 2024.

“Well at least I got two firsts today,” she said from her hospital bed. “First ever race crash and the first time I have not finished a race.

“I’m made of concrete. I spoke to my sister and she told me it’s all right. I still have three years to come back and redeem myself.”

Doctors have not confirmed how long Cooke will need to stay in hospital.

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Carol Cooke ha salready won a silver medal in Tokyo.

Rain leaves Alcott’s golden slam in a jam

Tokyo’s fickle weather has forced Paralympic organisers to delay Dylan Alcott’s gold medal wheelchair tennis match until Saturday morning.

The Aussie champion’s match against Dutchman Sam Schroder was originally scheduled to take place on Thursday night but days of scorching heat — and now pelting rain — has played havoc with the schedule.

With a big backlog of matches to get through, the first available slot for Alcott’s quad singles final is Saturday, which will give the 30-year-old more time to recover after he and Heath Davidson were beaten in the doubles final on Wednesday night.

Alcott, 30, is the overwhelming favourite to win the singles title and continue his push for the Gold Slam after his victories earlier this year in the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.

Curtis McGrath competes in the Men's Va'a single heat at the Tokyo Paralympics. Picture: Getty Images

Para-canoe ace forced to slow down

Aussie para-canoe star Curtis McGrath has called for a review of the rules for sprint racing after he was forced to slow down to avoid being disqualified during his heats at the Tokyo Paralympics on Thursday.

Under the rules, competitors have to stay in the middle of their lanes but the blustery conditions in Tokyo made that almost impossible, even for the world’s best.

McGrath — who lost his legs in a blast while serving with the Australian Army in Afghanistan — deliberately eased up during his kayak heat to comply with the regulations, finishing third, which means he now has to go through the semi-finals to earn a spot in the Friday’s final of the event he won in Rio.

In Va’a, McGrath’s other event, he won his heat to advance directly to Saturday’s final bit also had problems keeping his boat straight in the windy conditions.

“First race I had a bit of an issue and couldn’t really keep it straight in the middle of my lane, so I decided it wasn’t worth winning the heat and then getting disqualified, and knew it would be better to just ease off and go through to the semi-final tomorrow. Glad it happened in that race and not the final,” he said.

“In the VL3, again, a bit of an issue staying the centre of my lane, kinda ran into the blocks at the end there, but that’s past the finish line and in my mind that’s out of play. No issues.

“It’s tough. These boats don’t have rudders. You’ve got to manipulate them, especially when there’s a bit of a breeze out here. Some of the rules maybe need to be talked about, in terms of keeping it in your lane, rather than in the middle of your lane. The type of boat I’m using it does move around, and my type of paddling can create some issues there. But, I’m happy to get today done and move on to tomorrow.”

Australia’s Susan Seipel also advanced directly to the Va’a final and the semis of her kayak event in her first competitive race for two years.

“It was good to be out there on the water and racing again after such a long time. I was happy with my races,” she said.

Dylan Littlehales made it through to the semi-finals of the men’s kayak event while AJ Jennings progressed to the semis of the women’s event.