Paralympic Games 2016: Australia set for top five finish as gold rush continues

AUSTRALIA’S dream of a top-five Paralympic Games finish came closer to reality with another bumper gold medal haul on a successful day nine in Rio.

Maddison Elliott won three golds and two silvers, the most by an Australian at these Games.

THEY came in sailboats, swimsuits and tricycles, as Australia’s dream of a top-five Paralympic Games finish came closer to reality with another bumper gold medal haul in Rio.

Officially, the Aussies closed the day with three more golds, highlighted by Carol Cooke’s road cycling double, Ellie Cole’s emotional backstroke victory and schoolgirl Maddison Elliott becoming the nation’s most decorated 2016 Games athlete with her third in the pool.

The day-nine return elevated Australia’s team total to 17 golds, two clear of sixth-placed Germany — but that was before the addition of two more sailing titles overnight.

Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch secured the SKUD18 class with a two races still to run, ensuring their place in history as the first team to win back-to-back Paralympic titles.

They were joined with an insurmountable lead by the Sonar trio of Colin Harrison, Russell Boaden and Jonathan Harris, who wrapped up the gold medal with a race still to come.

Neither was to be added to the overall collection until medal ceremonies in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Australia’s golden day was launched by cyclist Cooke, who backed up her time-trial victory on Thursday with a 17s win in the road race.

The former Canadian undercover police officer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998, just four years after moving to Australia.

Carol Cooke claimed her second title, adding a road race gold to her time trial success.

Her symptoms are aggravated by heat and exertion — making competing in the stifling Rio conditions a challenge.

“The night after the time-trial I only slept about an hour-and-a-half and the neuro pain was really bad because I was so tired,” said Cooke, whose condition demands she ride a tricycle to prevent toppling over.

“I felt like I had ants crawling all over my face with the pins and needles and my legs were twitching everywhere and the pain was ridiculous.

“Unfortunately when I got up this morning my balance was completely gone. I thought ‘at least I don’t have to put my head down and I’m on three wheels so I can’t fall over even if my head does spin’ — but you don’t think about that when you cross the line.”

Elliott, 17, scored a world record on the way to her third gold in the S9 50m freestyle, becoming the first woman in her class to clock a time under 30s.

Maddison Elliott and Lakeisha Patterson bagged an Aussie one-two in the pool.

Teaming with Cole, Lakeisha Patterson and Madeleine Scott, the group won silver soon after in the 4x100m medley relay.

In seven events so far, Maitland girl Elliott has pocketed three golds and two silvers to lead all Australian athlete this Games. She has a 200m individual medley to come.

“I’m overwhelmed with emotion right now,” she said.

“It’s been three years that I’ve been trying to break the 30 and to be able to do that at a Paralympic Games tonight I’m really happy, and to be able to break the world record as well, I’m really stoked.”

Athletics pair Michael Roeger (T46 1500m) and Aaron Chatman (T47 high jump) won bronze medals along with swimmer Brenden Hall.

Originally published as Paralympic Games 2016: Australia set for top five finish as gold rush continues