Rio Paralympics 2016: Australia wins gold in world-record time
Lakeisha Patterson wins Australia's first gold of the Paralympics. Photo: Getty
Lakeisha Patterson has won Australia’s first gold medal at the Rio Paralympics in the S8 400m freestyle in a world-record time.
Patterson, 17, led from the 100m mark to defeat the former world-record holder, Jessica Long, of the USA.
She held an insurmountable lead going into the final 50m, before a final push in the last 15m to clinch the record.
Earlier, Sue Powell claimed the country’s first medal of the Games by taking silver in individual pursuit cycling.
Happy days! @702Suep is beaming after winning Australia's first medal of the Games; a silver. #WeBelieve pic.twitter.com/GivtMnQeA9
— AUS Paralympic Team (@AUSParalympics) September 8, 2016
The silver medal is Powell’s third Paralympic medal since suffering a spinal cord injury that affects her right leg.
Natalie Smith finished fifth in the women’s 10m air rifle while 74-year-old Libby Kosmala, failed to make the final in her 12th Paralympic Games.
Australians are in action in swimming and athletics finals on Friday morning.
