A “numb” Jaryd Clifford is reeling from the heartache of being advised his Paralympics bronze medal had been snatched away from him after the 5000m runner was disqualified for a breach of guidelines.
Clifford crossed the road third within the males’s T13 closing on the Stade de France on Saturday native time.
However the visually-impaired runner was advised by officers he had been disqualified for dropping the tether which linked him to information Matt Clarke as he crossed the road.
Clifford, the one runner within the race to make use of a information, was visibly distraught whereas talking to reporters after listening to his bronze had been taken away from him.
The 25-year-old had hoped to attraction however he was advised by the Worldwide Paralympic Committee he had no grounds to problem their verdict.
“I went and noticed mum and pop and my girlfriend and broke down,” Clifford mentioned.
“I had my little cry on the aspect of the observe.
“In case you discuss reacting to outcomes as grief, I had my grieving second.
“Out on the observe, I used to be somewhat bit numb, I am nonetheless a bit numb … I’m fairly shattered, to be sincere, if I am frank about it, we went in with the goal of profitable gold.”
Clifford’s devastation was plain to see and the dramatic and complicated circumstances of his disqualification capped a roller-coaster first hour on the observe.
On the observe: Australia takes dwelling bronze, silver
As Clifford was searching for solutions, Madison de Rozario completed with a bronze within the girls’s T54 5000m closing.
It was the 30-year-old’s seventh Paralympic medal along with her consideration now turning to the 1500m and the marathon.
Quickly after de Rozario crossed the end line, Michael Roeger, scooped silver within the males’s T46 1500m.
“Fortunately, I did sufficient early to face on prime of that podium … I am bloody proud with how I’ve gone the final three years,” Roeger mentioned.
“I left all of it on the market early and simply got here up quick but it surely’s not the top of the world if I come second.”
On the velodrome: Again-to-back gold
Amanda Reid couldn’t cover her delight as she continued Australia’s robust type on the velodrome, defending her C1-3 500m time trial Paralympic gold medal in model.
The back-to-back triumph was notably vital for Reid, who turned the primary Indigenous Australian to seal a gold medal when she gained the identical race at Tokyo three years in the past.
The 28-year-old raced by means of her two laps on Saturday for a factored time of 36.676 to make sure she might be Paralympic champion till Los Angeles in 4 years.
Reid’s first place added to the on the Paris’s Nationwide Velodrome 24 hours earlier.
Australia wins gold in para desk tennis
It wasn’t till late within the evening that Australia had a second gold medal when the Chinese language-born duo Lina and Qian grabbed a 11-7, 11-6, 2-11, 12-10 win within the girls’s doubles para desk tennis.
Coach Maggie Meng mentioned the pair’s robust private connection has meant they’re in sync every time they play with each other.
“On the desk, they’ve been taking part in with one another for years, and off the desk they’re one of the best of associates,” Meng mentioned.
“Qian is mentality is so robust, and Lina is simply so skilled.
“They play like one particular person, there is not any gaps between them.”
Australia’s Li Na Lei (left) and Qian Yang win gold within the Ladies’s Double (WD20) para desk tennis. Supply: AAP / GREG SMITH
The medal was Qian’s seventh Paralympic medal, the 28-year-old having gained three whereas competing for China.
Lina, in the meantime, picked up her tenth Paralympic medal and mentioned the prospect to do it alongside her childhood good friend held further significance.
“It is thrilling to get our first doubles gold medal. it is a totally different that means for us, as a result of final time in Tokyo, we solely acquired single medals,” Lina mentioned.
“I acquired numerous medals, however each time I nonetheless really feel a unique that means … we’re very shut associates, we all know one another from when Qian was a baby.”
