Paralympic GB team off to flying start as Storey wins first gold

Sarah Storey made sure Team GB weren’t waiting for too long for their first gold medal as she cruised to victory in the individual C5 women’s individual sprint.

The 34-year-old blitzed through the heats, smashing her own world record in the heats, but Storey insisted the win didn’t look as easy as it seemed.

“I didn’t expect to catch her as quick as I did, but I stepped up my game. I just thought I had to get there quick and you’re just willing the rider to come to you as quick as possible so you can just finish.” Storey said. 

The gold medal came a few hours after Mark Colbourne had claimed Team GB’s first medal as he took silver in the men’s individual 1km time trial.

There was also a bronze for Nyree Kindred in the women’s S6 100m backstroke and she was quickly followed by 16-year-old Hannah Russell, who in her first Paralympic games, took silver in the women’s S12 400m freestyle.

One further bronze medal came from Ben Quilter, who finished in third place, beating Japan’s Takaaki Hirai in the men’s -60kg judo.

Paralympic chiefs are targeting a record haul of 103 medals and second place finish in the overall table, and today’s early showing is a positive sign for the Team GB squad.

The editorial unit