GB matching China in medals haul

Published on Friday 12 September 2008 22:46

GREAT Britain continued the gold rush to keep pace with China at the top of the medals table after claiming six Paralympic Games titles in Beijing yesterday – including an emotional success for swimmer Liz Johnson.

The 22-year-old from south Wales capped another memorable day following victories by cyclists Rachel Morris, David Stone and Sarah Storey, her fellow swimmer Sam Hynd and the boccia team, by claiming Britain's 33rd gold of the Games.

Four silver medals and two bronze took Britain's total to 69, with only hosts China ahead in the standings with 37 golds and 109 medals in all.

Johnson went one better than she did in Athens, winning the women's SB6 100metres breaststroke in one minute 41.87 seconds.

It was Johnson's first event of the Games and came ten days after her mother Bonnie, 53, died of cancer on the day the team arrived in Beijing from the holding camp in Macau.

Johnson, who has cerebral palsy, said: "I've been fine all week, but it's been hard watching from the stands. This morning (for the heats] everybody let me get on with it, then this afternoon they were like 'Do it for your mum' and I was crying. I think she'll be happy."

World record holder Johnson was second four years ago and was pleased to justify her favourite tag. "When I was in Athens and won a silver medal, it was a big motivation to go out and train harder," she added. "I'm over the moon."

Johnson's boyfriend Jody Cundy won two track cycling golds after switching to the bike following three Paralympics in the pool. "We feed off each other," she added of Cundy. Johnson's victory was Britain's ninth triumph in all at the National Aquatics Centre.

Hynd won the eighth with victory in the first final of day six at the Water Cube, lowering the men's S8 400m freestyle world record he set in the morning's heats to 4mins 26.25secs.