2016 Rio Paralympics: Long jumper Brayden Davidson clinches gold with new record

ADELAIDE long jumper Brayden Davidson has triumphed with a record-breaking leap to take home gold at the Rio Paralympics.

Aussie teen Brayden Davidson has clinched gold at the Paralympics.

THIS one was for Bob and Moira.

“Later on tonight when all the excitement dies down, I will just sit by myself and take some time,” long-jump gold medallist Brayden Davidson said.

“I will just look up and have a think; ‘Nanna, Granddad, I did it’.”

Davidson secured Australia’s first athletics gold medal of these 2016 Rio Paralympic Games with a record-busting leap of 5.62m at the Olympic Stadium.

Brayden Davidson is the centre of attention after his long jump success.

The 18-year-old from Adelaide’s south dedicated the win, in his maiden Games appearance, to his late grandparents who were central to his pursuit of para-sport.

Sadly, despite their inspiration, neither would see their grandson achieve his life’s dream of competing at the Paralympics.

Davidson’s grandfather, Bob, died two years ago, and the family then lost grandmother Moira early last year.

Just before the last of Davidson’s six jumps, he looked skyward, paying tribute to the pair.

“They were massive supporters of me,” said Davidson, competing in the T36 class, through cerebral palsy.

“My nanna was the one that gave me the dream of even going to the Paralympics. She told me as a six-year-old.

“There was an article in the paper about (swimmer) Matt Cowdrey, (athlete) Katrina Webb. She just said ‘maybe one day if you keep on going that can be you out there competing for Australia at the Paralympics’.”

Davidson’s 5.62m jump was a full 11cm longer than his previous personal best, and ignited a nail-biting final in which just 1cm separated the medal winners.

Brayden Davidson survived a nervy competition to win gold.

Davidson finished tied with Brazilian jumper Rodrigo Parreira da Silva after the pair each registered their best effort with their opening jumps.

The gold medal was split by a countback, decided by Davidson’s second-best jump measuring 2cm longer than his rival.

“A bit overwhelmed,” Davidson said.

“So exciting. To be out there is realising a dream for me.

“That was an incredible comp all the way, back and forth, back and forth, me and Rodrigo just pushing each other to the absolute limit.

Davidson already held the career honour of being the first T36 athlete to break the 5.5m long jump barrier, and now has a gold medal to add to the list of achievements.

“Coming out here today and seeing the crowd, I was jumping after the Brazilian, hearing the roar every time he jumped. Even though it was for him you could use that energy a bit,” he said.

“That first jump, I absolutely jumped out of my skin. I have never jumped anywhere near that before (5.62m).”

Ukraine’s Roman Pavlyk scored bronze with a personal-best 5.61m, a full 25cm past the fourth-placed competitor.