Disability Sport Wales
Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru

WALES AT THE 2008 PARALYMPIC GAMES

UPDATE FROM WEDNESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER

David Roberts has today collected his second gold of the Beijing Paralympic Games. Wales’ very own Michael Phelps was in the men’s 100m freestyle relay alongside Graham Edmunds, Rob Welbourn and Matt Walker.

Like Roberts, Edmunds and Welbourn also train at the Wales National Pool in Swansea and are coached by former Welsh miner Billy Pye who is now GB’s Head Disability Swim Coach. Pye is receiving plaudits from all corners as he can now partly take credit for four gold medals won in Beijing.

Gareth John – Chair of Disability Sport Wales – explained:

“David’s achievements are fantastic. He is a great ambassador for Welsh sport. I would also like to commend Billy Pye – he is a first-class coach which is demonstrated by the fact that three members of this relay team are coached by him in Swansea.

“So far, the Beijing Games have been very positive for Wales. We still have a long way to go but the contribution to the British medal tally is very strong. Looking across the board – and not just at the medalists – we have been very pleased with the performances so far.”

The quartet smashed the world record by seven seconds to take gold at the end of another excellent night in the pool for Britain. They touched home in 3:51.43 giving Roberts the ninth gold of his Paralympic career.

The team led for most of the race, finishing two seconds ahead of second-placed Australia to take Wales’ contribution to the GB medal haul to six golds and one silver.

Sports Council for Wales Chair, Philip Carling, also added his congratulations to Roberts:

“Nine Paralympic gold medals is a superb achievement and my congratulations go to David – he is a first-class competitor. We have had a good start to these Games though medal expectations must be tempered by the fact that we have had retirements by Tanni Grey Thompson, Emma Brown and Lloyd Upsdell.

“It is important to note that around 50% of the Welsh contingent are making their Paralympic debut which augurs extremely well for London 2012 and beyond, added Mr Carling.

Bridgend’s Rhiannon Henry was also in action in the Water Cube today. She finished seventh in the final of the women’s 100m freestyle (S13).

On the final night of action in the Velodrome, Swansea-based Jody Cundy stormed to a second gold medal after lining up with Darren Kenny and Mark Bristow in the men’s team sprint.

Cundy said, “We’ve been working together towards this and it’s great that it all came together on the day. We’ve taken six tenths off the time we did in Manchester … it’s amazing.”

The cycling schedule now moves to the road where Wales can look forward to double gold medallist Simon Richardson from Porthcawl take on the time trial. Double world champion Rachel Morris – who hails from Pembrokeshire – will also be on the starting line in the women’s time trial.

Double sculler James Roberts has made tomorrow’s (Thursday) rowing final after finishing second in the repechage behind 2007 world silver medallists John Maclean and Kathryn Ross of Australia.

The Australian crew got a fast start, leaving Britain to battle with the USA’s Scott Brown and Angela Madsen for the last qualifying place. Initially the Americans took a small lead but the British duo pushed ahead in the second 250m of the race. Although the USA chased them to the line, Cromie and Roberts held their nerve and their position to take the vital second place.

Roberts – who is from Prestatyn and lives in Swansea – said: “I’m ecstatic, but very tired. It was tighter than we would have wanted but I had an inkling we had it.”

Wheelchair basketballers Clare Strange and Caroline Matthews were on court against the USA and were unable to withstand the Americans. The women suffered a 56-31 defeat and must now regroup to face Germany tomorrow (Thursday).

ONES TO WATCH THURSDAY

ARCHERY – Newport’s Pippa Britton takes on British team-mate Mel Clarke in the quarter-finals of the compound.

ATHLETICS – Queensferry’s Beverley Jones will be aiming to make the podium in the shot-putt. The Commonwealth Games medallist has agonizingly missed out on a medals in Sydney and Athens.

Teenagers Rebecca Chin and Jenny McCloughlin are both in action tomorrow. 16-year-old Chin of Deeside in the discus while Chepstow sprinter McLoughlin begins her campaign in the 100m.

The Tanni Grey-Thompson coached Brian Alldis of Cardiff is in heats for 800m while Tracey Hinton – also of Cardiff – sets out on her quest to medal in the 400m.

Kate Arnold, 19, of Newport is in the 200m heats. Earlier this week, she finished ninth in her 100m heat but will be aiming to deliver a better performance. LONDON 2012

FOOTBALL – Bridgend soccer star Keryn Seal will be up against Spain in their third match of the Paralympic Games. The blind five-a-side team suffered a 0-3 loss to hosts, China, on Sunday but the team redeemed itself yesterday with a 2-1 defeat over Korea. Spain have lost both of their preliminary matches to Argentina and Brazil.

ROWING – Double sculler James Roberts will be competing in Shunyi Park with partner Karen Cromie of Northern Ireland. Roberts – who is from Prestatyn but is now based in Swansea – and Cromie are into the finals.

SAILING – Stephen Thomas will be in his sixth race of the Sonar competition with crew-mates Hannah Stodel and John Robertson. The trio’s outings have not gone to plan and they currently lie outside of medal position in the seventh spot. However, there is time for the crew to “get back into medal zone”, according to skipper Robertson.

SWIMMING – David Roberts will be vying to add to his trophy cabinet. The Pontypridd product will be taking on the 400m freestyle as he edges ever nearer Tanni Grey Thompson’s Paralympic medal tally.

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL – Clare Strange and Caroline Matthews will be aiming to pick up the pace against Germany on Thursday. The GB women have been overwhelmed by Australia and USA but did pick up a win over Brazil.

Commenting is closed for this article.