Le Fur breaks long jump T44 world record – twice!

French world champion Marie-Amelie le Fur broke the long jump T44 world record twice on her way to securing gold on the second day (Friday 9 September) of Para athletics competition at Rio 2016.

Le Fur, who won Paralympic bronze four years ago at London 2012, leapt 5.75m with her first attempt – adding one centimetre on to the mark she set on her way to winning the world title in Doha, Qatar, last year.

The 27-year-old then went even further in the fourth round, jumping a phenomenal 5.83m – a distance she matched with her sixth and final attempt.

“It was a great pleasure to break the world record with my first jump, and it was very important for me because I know that I can jump so far. When you are good in the first it’s better for the rest of the competition,” said Le Fur, who recorded four jumps over the 5.70m mark.”

Great Britain’s Stef Reid won silver with a best of 5.64m and bronze went to the Netherlands’ Marlene van Gansewinkel (5.57m).

Le Fur was one of several Para athletes to set new world records on Friday morning at Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Stadium.

Tunisia’s reigning Paralympic and world champion Maroua Brahmi (26.93m) safely retained her club throw F32 title and she did it in style too, adding 3.50m on to the world record set by Algeria’s Mounia Gasmi in March this year. Gasmi (25.41m) won silver while Great Britain’s Gemma Prescott (19.77m) won bronze.

Brazilian home favourite Daniel Martins was cheered all the way round the track as he won the men’s 400m T20 in world record time.

Martins, who won world gold last year, came round the final bend with a solid lead that proved too much for his rivals. He crossed the line in 47.22, knocking 0.56 off the mark he set at the same venue in May this year.

“It was an emotional moment for me. Winning a gold medal at home was incredible,” said Martins, who wiped tears of joy from his eyes after he crossed the line.

“I’m at home here. I got the world record in May. I did it again. Now I just want to relax a little bit and focus on next year.

“My dream was to win the World Championships and I did it. So I said my next dream was to win the Paralympics. So what’s my next dream? It is sleeping.”

Silver went to Venezuela’s Luis Arturo Paiva (47.83) while Cape Verde’s Gracelino Barbosa (48.55) won bronze.

China’s Cuiqing Liu (11.96) became the first female T11 sprinter to go below 12 seconds as she knocked 0.05 off defending champion Terezinha Guilhermina’s mark in the first women’s 100m T11 semi-final. Great Britain’s Libby Clegg went even faster (11.91) in the second semi and, although she was initially disqualified, she was later reinstated and will head into the final.

Ukraine’s Ihor Tsvietov (12.22) smashed the men’s 100m T35 world record in the morning’s heats, knocking 0.07 seconds off the previous mark set by China’s Sen Yang at Beijing 2008.

Ireland’s star sprinter Jason Smyth showed just why he is the fastest Paralympian on the planet as he notched up his third consecutive Paralympic 100m T13 title in convincing style.

Smyth, dubbed the Usain Bolt of the Paralympics, drove hard out of the blocks and held on strongly to take the win in 10.64. Namibia’s Johannes Nambala (10.78) and Australia’s Chad Perris (10.83) won silver and bronze respectively.

“It never gets tiring coming to Paralympic Games and crossing the line first. Each time I come out it is like a fairytale that just doesn't seem to end,” said the 29-year-old, who won gold at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 in world record time.

“I know I can win and I’m probably under pressure to win, but it just keeps happening and I’m very happy that I’ve been able to be so successful.”

Argentina’s world silver medallist Yanina Andrea Martinez (14.46) took the win in the women’s 100m T36 after Brazil’s Tascitha Oliveira Cruz, who had led from the gun, stumbled with less than 30m to go. Germany’s Claudia Nicoleitzik (14.64) clinched silver ahead of Colombia’s bronze medallist Martha Hernandez Florian (14.71).

Out in the field the women’s shot put F41 went to form as Tunisia’s Raoua Tlili (10.19m) clinched her third consecutive Paralympic title. The 26-year-old finished nearly two metres clear of her rivals, including countrywoman Samar Ben Koelleb (8.39m) and Australia’s Claire Keefer (8.16m), who completed the podium.

Manolis Stefanoudakis threw a new Paralympic record to take gold in the men’s javelin F54. The 33-year-old world champion threw 29.45m with his first attempt, finishing over three metres clear of the field. Mexico’s Luis Zepada Felix (25.92m) won silver and Belarussian Aliaksandr Tryputs (23.56m) won bronze.

“I have been waiting for four years for this moment. It is the best thing I have ever done in athletics,” said the 33-year-old who won bronze at London 2012.

“I am the biggest star in Crete,” he laughed. “They are already celebrating there now and we will have another big party when we go back.”

Canada’s reigning world champion and world record holder Brent Lakatos (14.43) qualified fastest through to this evening’s 100m T53 final, setting a new Paralympic record in the process. Thailand’s Pongsakorn Paeyo (14.56) and Brazil’s Ariosvaldo Fernandes Silva (14.69), who sit second and third respectively in the world rankings, also looked impressive winning their heats.

The USA’s 100m T52 defending champion Ray Martin (17.27) comfortably won his heat to progress through to Saturday’s (10 September) final. US teammate Gianfranco Iannotta (17.20) won the first of the two heats and will be hoping to continue the form that saw him beat Martin at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Nottwil, Switzerland, earlier this year.

The women’s 100m T12 semi-finals rounded off the morning’s track action and there was no surprise as Cuban triple world champion Omara Durand (11.55) cruised through to Friday (9 September) evening’s final as the fastest qualifier.