Skip to main content

Dame Sarah Storey heads ParalympicsGB’s most memorable moments of Tokyo 2020

DAME SARAH STOREY moved into a class of her own, Britain’s wheelchair rugby team made history and two swimmers called Ellie made emotional announcements during 12 action-packed days of competition in Tokyo.

There were so many stand-out moments from the unique Games delivered during a pandemic.

Dame Sarah Storey rewrote the record books. The unstoppable cyclist defended three titles to become Britain’s most successful Paralympian. The trio of golds moved her on to 17 in total.

Great Britain claimed a historic first Paralympic medal in wheelchair rugby after storming to gold with a superb 54-49 win over three-time champions the United States.

Sprinter Jonnie Peacock hailed his exhilarating 100m sprint final as the perfect advert for Paralympic sport after he was confirmed as winner of the joint T64 bronze alongside Johannes Floors in precisely 10.786 seconds. 

He declared himself “proud” to be raising the profile of disability sport.

Golden couple Neil and Lora Fachie each stormed to glory on a fairy-tale day of track cycling. 

Scotsman Neil and pilot Matt Rotherham powered home in world-record style in the men’s B1000m time trial, before Liverpool-born wife Lora and her tandem guide Corrine Hall remarkably matched the feat just minutes later in the women’s B 3000m individual pursuit. 

Cyclist Jaco Van Gass claimed two golds and a bronze on his Games debut, Micky Yule was third on the powerlifting podium, while Stuart Robinson was part of GB’s all-conquering wheelchair rugby team. 

The late arrival of Afghan athletes Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli — who were initially ruled out of competing before being evacuated from their home country via Paris — was another memorable moment.

David Smith was crowned the “Cristiano Ronaldo of boccia” following his history-making gold.

Tokyo seemingly marked the end for two British swimming stars. On her 20th birthday, two-time medallist Ellie Robinson received widespread words of consolation and encouragement following an emotional interview in which she revealed her painful hip condition had become too severe to continue. 

That news was followed just three days later by five-time gold winner Ellie Simmonds effectively calling time on her own Paralympics career.

Devastation was etched on the faces of wheelchair tennis doubles partners Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett following a second successive final defeat to French duo Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer. 

ParalympicsGB secured 124 medals in Japan, finishing second behind China in the overall standings.

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today