Rio 2016: Day seven preview

Iran’s Siamand Rahman, the world’s strongest Paralympian, will attempt to make history on Wednesday (14 September) by becoming the first Paralympian to lift more than 300kg – or the equivalent of two baby elephants – in the men’s over 107kg powerlifting event.

But Rahman will not be the only athlete aiming to produce something extraordinary on day seven of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

At the Olympic Stadium, a battle of the teenagers pits Australia’s world champion and world record holder Isis Holt against Great Britain’s Maria Lyle in the women’s 100m T35.

The women’s 400m T34 also has the potential to be a classic. On paper Great Britain’s world champion Hannah Cockroft should be expected to win the race, but last year she suffered her first defeat in seven years in the T34 class when teammate Kare Adenegan beat her.

And men’s 800m T34 world champion Walia Ktila could also face his hardest race of the Games when he goes head-to-head with Great Britain’s European champion Isaac Towers and Finland’s Henry Manni.

In wheelchair fencing, Italian teenage sensation Beatrice Vio is going for gold in her Paralympic debut in the women’s individual foil category B.

Vio, who was a London 2012 torchbearer, is the strong favourite to clinch victory.

Reigning Paralympic and world champions Australia get their wheelchair rugby campaign off to a tough start against Great Britain.

Canada, a consistent top-three finisher, will also being their quest for a medal when they meet Brazil.

At the Aquatics Centre, Belarusian Ihar Boki is looking to improve on his silver medal from London 2012 in the men’s 50m freestyle S13.

In the men’s 100m butterfly S11, Japan’s London 2012 bronze medallist Keiichi Kimura is aiming to build on his gold medal from the 2015 World Championships.

The men’s quarter-finals begin in wheelchair basketball, while Dylan Alcott will be looking to back up his wheelchair tennis quad doubles gold by securing victory in the quad singles final against Andy Lapthorne.