London 2012 Paralympics Blog

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London 2012 Paralympics Blog

3rd & 7 37yd

1813: Incredible scenes down at the Aquatic Center as GB's Ellie Simmonds takes gold in record time. But you've also really got to feel for second placed Victoria Arlen. The American has had a hell of a week after initially being ruled ineligible for the Games on Monday as her impairment was deemed not severe enough to qualify.

A wonderful race from both ladies.

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 5:14:01 PM
1819: Ellie Simmonds struggles to hold it together as she tells the crowd:

"It was so tough. I saw her on the last turn and I just put my head down and thought I'm going to do it for everyone who supported me."

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 5:19:26 PM
I’m seriously welling up watching this interview with Ellie Simmonds. Wow. Full credit to Victoria Arlen, as well. What a battle.

by TheAuracl3 via twitter 9/1/2012 5:20:19 PM
Won my first round singles! What a kick to see the stands full of people! #GOTeamNL #Paralymics

by EstherVergeer via twitter 9/1/2012 6:51:41 PM
1955: That’s right. Earlier today Dutch wheelchair tennis star Esther Vergeer won her 466th consecutive match, this time against Japan's Kanako Domori in the heats.

CNN’s Duarte Mendonca gives us an insight into her stellar career:

‘Living legend,’ is a term that gets bandied around a lot in sport. But when it comes to Dutch woman Esther Vergeer, there’s simply no other way to describe her.

The 31-year old current World Number One wheelchair tennis player has won every Grand Slam there is to win - a total of 42 under her belt. To put that into perspective just take a look at World Number One able-bodied player Roger Federer’s record. He holds a ‘meagre’ 17 Grand Slams in comparison.

Adding to her impressive list of titles, Vergeer has won every single Paralympics gold since her debut in Sydney 2000 – claiming a total of five in both singles and doubles competitions.

Today she continued her winning streak with a record of 466 consecutive wins. 466! She’s undefeated since 2003. Unbelievable.

But before she was a tennis player, Vergeer actually started out as a wheelchair basketballer. Vergeer became a paraplegic when she was eight-years-old following surgery intended to correct defective blood vessels around her spinal cord. She started ‘shooting hoops’ as part of her recovery, later winning a European championship for her country in 1997.

Meanwhile, Vergeer also began taking up tennis, competing in international competitions in 1998.

Will she continue her winning streak and win two more gold in London? You’ll have to follow CNN’s live Paralympics blog to find out.

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 6:56:23 PM
If you squint you can almost see the other competitors. Oscar Pistorius absolutely kills it in the 200m – T44 heats
Credit: Getty Images.

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 7:59:15 PM
Fast? You bet. The blade runner finishes meters ahead of everyone else
Credit: Getty Images.

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 8:03:24 PM
Michael McKillop secures Ireland's SECOND world record tonight, winning the 800m - T37 in 1.57.22s. He follows countrymen Jason Smyth who also took the 100m - T13 in record time.

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 8:08:56 PM
The stadium was jumping tonight. Literally. China's Liu Fuliang competes in the men's triple jump F46
Credit: Getty Images.

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:23:55 PM
You can hear him roar from here. Shadi Issa of the Syrian Arab Republic in the Men's -60 kg Powerlifting
Credit: Getty Images.

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:28:22 PM
The emotion proves too much for GB’s Ellie Simmonds
Credit: Getty Images.

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:30:00 PM
You said it. Ireland’s Jason Smyth is the fastest Paralympian on the planet. The man even has his own flag
Credit: Getty Images.

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:32:11 PM
Brazil’s Daniel Dias of Brazil powers through the water in the Men's 200m Freestyle - S5
Credit: Getty Images.

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:34:20 PM
How could I not include this? Another spectacular Judo moment. This time with GB’s Sam Ingram (blue) and Vladimir Fedin of Russia (white)
Credit: Getty Images.

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:38:55 PM
2245: So many champs, so little time. Now let us take a look at our rather long list of 49 gold medal winners...

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:46:21 PM
2254: Athletics

1) Tunisia’s Maroua Ibrahmi in the Women's Club Throw - F31/32/51
2) Iran’s Jalil Bagheri Jeddi in the Men's Shot Put - F54/55/56
3) Cuba’s Luis Felipe Gutierrez in the Men's Long Jump - F13
4) Great Britain’s Richard Whitehead in the Men's 200m - T42
5) China’s Liangmin Zhang in the Women's Discus Throw - F11/12
6) Russia’s Elena Ivanova in the Women's 200m - T36
7) Russia’s Margarita Goncharova in the Women's 100m - T38
8) China’s Liwan Yang in the Women's Shot Put - F54/55/56
9) Iran’s Mohsen Kaedi in the Men's Javelin Throw - F33/34
10) Ireland’s Jason Smyth in the Men's 100m - T13
11) China’s Fuliang Liu in the Men's Triple Jump - F46
12) Ukraine’s Iurii Tsaruk in the Men's 100m - T35
13) Poland’s Katarzyna Piekart in the Women's Javelin Throw - F46
14) Canada’s Michelle Stilwell in the Women's 200m - T52
15) Ireland’s Michael McKillop in the Men's 800m - T37
16) Australia’s Evan O'Hanlon in the Men's 100m - T38
17) Cuba’s Yunidis Castillo in the Women's 200m - T46

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:55:24 PM
2256: Cycling

18) Great Britain’s Neil Fachie in the Men's Ind.B 1km Time Trial
19) Romania’s Carol-Eduard Novak in the Men's Ind. C4 Pursuit
20) Australia’s Michael Gallagher in the Men's Ind. C5 Pursuit
21) China’s Yin He in the Women's Ind.C1-2-3 500m Time Trial
22) Great Britain’s Sarah Storey in the Women's Ind. C4-5 500m Time Trial

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:56:01 PM
2256: Equestrian

23) Great Britain’s Natasha Baker in the Ind. Championship Test - Grade II
24) Australia’s Joann Formosa in the Ind. Championship Test - Grade Ib

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:56:27 PM
2256: Judo

25) Cuba’s Jorge Hierrezuelo Marcillis in the Men's -90 kg
26) South Korea’s Gwang-Geun Choi in the Men's -100 kg
27) Japan’s Kento Masaki in the Men's +100 kg
28) Spain’s Maria del Carmen Herrera Gomez in the Women's -70 kg
29) China’s Yanping Yuan in the Women's +70 kg

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:56:59 PM
2257: Shooting

33) Ukraine’s Vasyl Kovalchuk in the Mixed R5-10m Air Rifle Prone-SH2
34) France’s Cedric Fevre in the Mixed R3-10m Air Rifle Prone-SH1

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:57:21 PM
2257: Swimming

35) Brazil’s Andre Brasil in the Men's 100m Butterfly - S10
36) New Zealand’s Sophie Pascoe in the Women's 100m Butterfly - S10
37) Ireland’s Darragh Mcdonald in the Men's 400m Freestyle - S6
38) Great Britain’s Eleanor Simmonds in the Women's 400m Freestyle - S6
39) Ukraine’s Andriy Kalyna in the Men's 100m Breaststroke - SB8
40) Russia’s Olesya Vladykina in the Women's 100m Breaststroke - SB8
41) Brazil’s Daniel Dias in the Men's 200m Freestyle - S5
42) Norway’s Sarah Louise Rung in the Women's 200m Freestyle - S5
43) China’s Bozun Yang in the Men's 50m Freestyle - S11
44) Italy’s Cecilia Camellini in the Women's 50m Freestyle - S11
45) South Africa’s Charles Bouwer in the Men's 50m Freestyle - S13
46) United States’ Kelley Becherer in the Women's 50m Freestyle - S13
47) Australia’s Blake Cochrane in the Men's 100m Breaststroke - SB7
48) United States’ Jessica Long in the Women's 100m Breaststroke - SB7
49) China’s Yang Yang in the Men's 200m Freestyle - S2

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 9:58:13 PM
2258: And with that I will leave you to enjoy the rest of your SUPERHUMAN SATURDAY night. Thanks for your comments. I've been Sheena McKenzie. Keep it coming for Tom McGowan at 9am London time. It's Sunday morning, so be kind. Over and out.

by sheena.mckenzie 9/1/2012 10:00:07 PM
1118: A little more on the Boccia, which starts today. Great Britain are the reigning champions having beaten Portugal in Beijing, so today’s group stage clash between the two countries will be something of a grudge match. It is North Korea, though, who are the world’s top ranked team. They begin their campaign against Ireland and Brazil.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 10:18:44 AM
1125: In the men’s 5-a-side football, Brazil have destroyed Turkey 4-0 at the Riverbank Arena. Star striker Jeferson Goncalves, or “Jefinho”, scored twice as the reigning champions eased to an emphatic victory despite missing three penalties. The sport is for athletes with varying degrees of visual impairment, but all players must wear blackout blindfolds to ensure fairness.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 10:25:44 AM
Alla Lysenko takes the gold medal in the women’s AS single skulls final.
Credit: Getty Images.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 10:28:48 AM
Right we’ve already had six gold medals today, so let me give you a quick update. China have, unsurprisingly, taken men’s class 3 singles gold in the table tennis thanks to Panfeng Feng, with Hong Kong China’s Ka Man Wong winning the women’s class 11 competition. In addition to Lysenko’s win on the rowing lake we have seen ANOTHER Chinese gold medal in the men’s single skulls ASM1x courtesy of Cheng Huang. At the Olympic Stadium, Serbia’s Tanja Dragic has thrown her way to women’s javelin F12/13 glory, the Ukraine’s Mariia Pomazan has done the same in the women’s F35/36 shot put and you already know about Edith Wolf’s T54 5000m win. So that’s us up to date. Phew!

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 10:36:43 AM
always get goose bumps watching the paralympics

by amybrettt via twitter 9/2/2012 10:46:43 AM
1153: You're in good company, Amy Brett. I was in pieces watching various Brits yesterday, I suspect a few more people might shed some tears before today is through. Here's a list of some of the finals coming up over the next hour, all times are London time:

1150: Men's discus F42
1200: Women’s -56kg powerlifting
1200: Mixed R4 air rifle standing SH2
1230: Table tennis men’s singles class 9

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 10:53:34 AM
1156: The relay heats are underway in the Aquatics Centre. The selection is based on a points system, with each country allowed a team which adds up to 34 points. Less impaired athletes are given a higher points score, so the selection of the team and choosing the right tactics is essential.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 10:56:25 AM
Damn! There is a lot of talent at the #AquaticsCentre ! #Paralympics

by MLPratley via twitter 9/2/2012 10:56:54 AM
Edith Wolf of Switzerland won gold in the women’s T54 5000m.
Credit: Getty Images.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 11:00:01 AM
1203: One sport yet to be seen at London 2012 is wheelchair rugby, better known as “murderball”. CNN found out more about this brutal Paralympic sport with Canada’s Garett Hickling.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 11:03:29 AM
The great Britain swimming team were unreal there :o #paralympics

by kimmurrin92 via twitter edited by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 11:08:26 AM
12:10: Paralympic GB showing the benefit of having the team’s least impaired swimmer on the final leg, as S10 Robert Welbourn devoured the lead held by S6 Matthew Haanappel of Australia. The noise in the Aquatics Centre was something to behold.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 11:11:02 AM
The Paralympic cauldron illuminates the Olympic Stadium.
Credit: Getty Images.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 11:23:29 AM
by ReadJojo via twitter 9/2/2012 11:32:01 AM
1240: Would you like to hear from women’s F42/44 long jump gold medallist Kelly Cartwright? Of course you would. Here is the Australian:

“It was really tough because being in a combined class, you've got to look at the points, it's not just the distance. Some of those girls jumped so far and so well and it was pretty tough - one of the toughest competitions I've had.

"I was really nervous. I went to Beijing(2008) but this is a whole different game for me. I was coming in ranked in the top few and I wanted to come out and do well, and I did, and I can't even express how happy I am and how relieved I am at the same time.”

Cartwright can now take her medal back to her cat, who she loves spending time with. The cat, name unkown, is an amputee like it’s owner.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 11:40:56 AM
1333: This Games is full of athletes with incredible stories to tell and the Rwandan sitting volleyball team are no different. Read their remarkable tale here.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 12:33:58 PM
1336: On the subject of tales to tell, few are as heartwarming as that of U.S. sailor Paul Callahan. Read about our very own Sheena McKenzie’s meeting with him here.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 12:36:46 PM
1425: The men’s individual sprint semifinals are underway in the Velodrome. The tandem bikes, which carry a Paralympian and a pilot, make for a fascinating viewing. The pilot is sighted, guiding the other rider around the track. The pilots have sparked a flurry of questions, with people curious to know how they are selected. Let me enlighten you! To qualify as a pilot for the Paralympics, you have to have not raced in international able-bodied cycling for at least two years. So Australia couldn’t select Anna Mears as a pilot and Britain couldn’t put Chris Hoy on the front of a bike. I hope that helps!

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 1:25:56 PM
The women’s individual pursuit made for pulsating viewing in the Velodrome.
Credit: Getty Images.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 1:32:18 PM
1438: It will be an all British final in the men’s individual B sprint, with the showdown set to begin in around 20 minutes time. Neil Fachie and pilot Barney Storey will go head-to-head with Anthony Kappes and pilot Craig MacLean.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 1:38:54 PM
Men's individual sprint _ so exciting!#paralympics #velodrome

by LucyMThomas via twitter edited by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 1:40:13 PM
Competitors use ramps to compete in the Boccia event.
Credit: Getty Images.

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 1:49:35 PM
1453: Some interesting stats from LOCOG director of sport Debbie Jevans, prepare yourself for some very large numbers:

"364 medals have been won by athletes from 49 countries. We've also completed 117 of the 503 events that there are on the programme. At the Olympic Games we had 46 new world records, and already at the Paralympic Games we've had 89 new world records.

"Today (Sunday) is our biggest day for medals so far. We have 60 gold medals up for grabs today in eight sports, and 21 of those will be in athletics, 14 in swimming and today there are 11 medals in table tennis.

"The total ticketed attendance yesterday (Saturday) was 259,000 people. Of those, there have been 193,000 people in Olympic Park, and we've had 22,000 people in ExCeL."

by tom.mcgowan 9/2/2012 1:53:43 PM