Top five dual-sport athletes at Rio 2016

Several athletes doubled up on sports at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Here are the top five who saw success on the podium:

Kadeena Cox, GBR, athletics and cycling

The 25-year-old triumphed on two separate tracks. In her Paralympic debut, Cox sped to gold in the women’s C4-5 500m time trial. She also won a medal in all three of her athletics races. Notably, she captured the 400m T38 gold in a world record time. Cox also helped the British team take silver in the 4x100m relay T35-38, and squeezed in for bronze in the 100m T38.

Grace Norman, USA, triathlon and athletics

The 18-year-old had a Paralympic debut to remember. She became the first female Para triathlon gold medallist, upsetting British favourite Lauren Steadman in the women’s PT4. Then one day later, she added a bronze medal to her resume in the women’s 400m T44.

Allysa Seely, USA, triathlon and athletics

It was not until late in the 2015 season when Seely emerged as the gold-medal favourite in the women’s PT2. She won the 2015 Edmonton International Triathlon Union World Para Triathlon Event last September, and had not lost a race since. Claiming back-to-back World Championships titles, the 27-year-old stamped her authority in the category with Paralympic gold. What made the Rio moment more special was sharing the podium will fellow teammates, Hailey Danisewicz and Melissa Stockwell, who took silver and bronze respectively. Seely then moved onto the track in the 200m T36, where she finished sixth.

Ernst van Dyk, RSA, cycling and athletics

The South African surprised many when he captured the H5 gold in the cycling road race. He did so in thrilling fashion, outsprinting Italy’s defending gold medallist Alex Zanardi and the Netherlands’ Jetze Plat, who finished second and third, respectively. Dyk, who fell short of the gold at London 2012, covered the 60km Rio course in 1:37.49. It was his first gold in the event since Beijing 2008. Dyk also finished fifth on the 24-man marathon course on the last day of Rio 2016.

Jetze Plat, NED, triathlon and cycling

The Dutch saw double success in the men’s PT1 Para triathlon event, with Plat leading the way. The 25-year-old dominated the course from swim to run, staying ahead throughout all three segments en-route to the gold in the sport’s Paralympic debut. His teammate and training partner Geert Schipper followed up in second. Plat then took on the road race H5, which featured an exciting three-man sprint to the finish; he claimed the bronze.

Cassie Mitchell, USA, athletics and swimming

Going back and forth between two venues, Mitchell was most successful at the Olympic Stadium. The 35-year-old took home silver in the women’s discus throw F52, which was won by her fellow teammate Rachel Morrison. Mitchell claimed bronze in the club throw F51, an event she finished fourth in back at London 2012. She also took on the women’s 50m backstroke S2, where she reached the finals and came in seventh.