Canada's Chantal Petitclerc ran in two races and grabbed two golds tonight, bringing her personal medal tally to four golds, while Kenya's Henry Kiprono Kirwa goes home with three golds. April Holmes of the United States proved she was unaffected by her fall on Tuesday and China's men's relay team blazed tracks to win the 4x400m T53/54.
Women's 200m - T54
It was no surprise when Petitclerc sped to the finish line to win the Women's 200m - T54, taking seconds off her old world record (28.25 seconds) with 27.52s. Tatyana McFadden of the United States settled for the silver yet again (silver in 200m and 400m) when she finished in 28.43s and Switzerland's Manuela Schar took the bronze with 28.84s.
Women's 800m - T54
A repeat performance with a familiar medal standing as Petitclerc took gold in the Women's 800m - T54 with another new world record 1:45.19 (old record - 1:47.50), leaving McFadden in second place, for the second time tonight, with 1:46.95. In third place was Canada's Diane Roy, finishing in 1:48.07.
Men's 4x400m Relay - T53/54
Host China dethroned Thailand, first beating their world record (3:12.73) in the heats with 3:08.80 and then clocking 3:05.67 in the final tonight. China had the race won from the start, easily breaking away from the rest and maintaining a strong lead throughout. It was then just a matter of finishing in record time. Thailand came in second with 3:11.63 and France trailed into third place with 3:17.93.
Women's Javelin - F54-56
The gold medalist Martina Monika Willing of Germany may not have bettered her old F56 world record (24.03 meters) but her third attempt throw of 23.99m (1204 points) secured her the win and the Paralympics record. Tunisia's Hania Aidi broke her previous F54 world record (15.76m) with her third attempt of 16.83m (1149 points) but settled for the silver medal based on the multi-classification event point system. In the bronze medal position was Daniela Todorova of Bulgaria with 19.38m (1092 points). Marianne Buggenhagen of Germany settled for fifth place but retains her F55 world record (19.66m) title.
Women's 100m - T44
The United States' April Holmes made up for her missed 200m medal chance on Tuesday by bagging gold in the Women's 100m -T44. It looked like the three fastest runners crossed the line at the same time but Holmes was declared the winner with 13.72s, a narrow margin from the 13.73s clocked by both Marie-Amelie le Fur of France who won silver and Wang Juan of China who took bronze.
Men's High Jump - F44/46
The world record holder Jeff Skiba of United States jumped higher than his old F44 world record (2.10m) to make it 2.11m (1056 points), taking the gold in the Men's High Jump - F44/46. Australia's Aaron Chatman's jump of 2.02m (1011 points) won him the silver while China's Chen Hongjie took the bronze with 1.96m (980 points). Medals were awarded based on a multi-classification event point system.
Men's Discus - F37/38
Javad Hardani of Iran, F38 world record (46.62m) holder's third attempt throw of 45.62m (1024 points) was short of the record but enough for a Paralympics record and the gold medal based on the multi-classification event point system. Mykola Zhabnyak of Ukraine broke the F37 world record but took the silver with his fourth attempt throw of 52.00m (1010 points). The bronze went to China's Xia Dong for his fifth attempt throw of 51.65m (1003 points).
Men's 200m - T38
Evan O'hanlon of Australia clipped more seconds off his own times, winning the Men's 200m - T38 with a new world record of 21.98 seconds (old record - 22.49s), and adding to his gold from the 100m. Coming in second was China's Zhou Wenjun with 22.38s and Mykyta Senyk of Ukraine clocked 22.52s for the bronze.
Men's 10000m - T12
Kenya's Kirwa has done it again. After his gold medals in the 1500m and 5000m, he won the Men's 10000m -T12 in the Paralympic record time of 31:42.97. He nearly lost it close to the finish line when Abderrahim Zhiou of Tunisia suddenly had a burst of energy and tried to overtake but only managed a silver with 31:43.15. Brazil's Odair Santos's run of 31:57.91 gave him bronze, his third at Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games (first two in 800m -T12 and 5000m - T13), but his 2006 world record (31:39.89) remains unbroken.
Women's Shot Put - F12/13
China won gold in the Women's Shot Put - F12/13 through Tang Hongxia's throw of 12.69 meters (1017 points). World record holder for F12 (13.06m) and F13 (13.05m) Tamara Sivakova of Belarus retains her previous records but had to make do with silver for her throw of 12.13m (972 points). In third place was Australia's Jodi Willis-Roberts with 11.21m (898 points).
(BOCOG September 14, 2008)