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British team celebrate a 'record' haul of over 100 medals



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Published Date: 17 September 2008
BRITAIN'S Paralympic athletes will tomorrow bring home a haul of more than 100 medals after ten days of competition in Beijing.
The 206-strong team Paralympic GB is preparing to celebrate during this evening's closing ceremony at the Bird's Nest stadium after taking their medals tally to at least 102.

Team chiefs hailed one of the best performances "of all time" by a Br
itish paralympic team yesterday after the men's wheelchair basketball team took the overall medal haul to 100 after they won bronze, smashing the pre-Games target of 41.

Wheelchair racer Shelly Woods, 22, won Great Britain's 101st medal of the Paralympic Games yesterday with a silver. And David Weir claimed the 102nd gold medal with his second success in three days, winning gold over 1,500 metres to claim his second middle-distance title after landing the 800-metre gold on Saturday.

Caroline Searle, Paralympic GB spokeswoman, was last night unable to confirm if this represents the most medals ever won by a British paralympic team, citing historic gaps in record keeping.

However, she added: "This is one of the best performances from a Great British team of all time … We are really proud of our athletes."

The tally puts Great Britain in second place on the medals table below China and above the United States.

Last night British athletes stood a good chance of winning even more medals in two more scheduled events, the wheelchair marathon and wheelchair fencing.






The full article contains 253 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 16 September 2008 9:15 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: 2008 Olympics
 
1

EPS,

Edinburgh 17/09/2008 01:03:20
To each individual medal winner I say: well done.

But overall, what does this prove? That disabled people in Britain are less disabled than disabled people abroad?

I question the logic of the Paralympics.
2

Kate,

Zurich 17/09/2008 08:03:09
I don't question the logic of the Paralympics, but I do question the fact that there is so little coverage in the newspapers and on tv. Compared to the coverage of the Olympics this has been pretty shoddy!

But congratulations to all the athletes, who have proved yet again that having a physical disability does not exclude you from achieving amazing things!
3

danielrober,

17/09/2008 08:04:18
An excellent example of how to live.

A lot of rather powerful people these days complain endlessly about what they do not have or that they want more, more. Wow looking at these guys is a lesson, to stop complaining and start living.

Well done athletes.
4

Boy Wonder,

17/09/2008 08:44:18
Though I was personally against the Olympic Olympics and Paralympics for other reasons ... I was never against our athletes and their proud sporting achievements. Especially the ones in the Paralympics because they have to rise above their infirmities. And didn't they do well? Congrats to all involved!
5

Brodric,

17/09/2008 10:17:33
Fantastic - well done! They are inspirational and we should have had more coverage.
6

JayDeeTee,

17/09/2008 12:56:20
Fantastic achievement by all. Well done. You must be proud.
7

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 17/09/2008 13:24:49
I also add my congrats to these formidable and brave athletes.

They have risen above their infirmities and affirmed the human spirit and body.

Heartfelt salutations all round to all of you!
8

JT,

18/09/2008 08:37:53
Congratulations to the team who did the whole country proud. It should make you think that no matter how bad you feel, these people have pushed themselves to achieve so much. As for coverage it wasnt the same level of the olympics,however the tv coverage was pretty impressive, shame that the papers didnt cover it in the same way. The major issue that did come out was the classification issue as one of our girls had her silver medal taken off her as she was deemed not disabled enough in her group and the cheating shouts from the aussies. This was totally disgraceful and something the organisers of the London games must act upon.

 

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