TEAM GB STRIKES TRIPLE GOLD IN SHANGHAI
Saturday was another highly successful day for Team GB at the Shanghai Special Olympics World Games with a number of medals won in equestrian, aquatics and cycling including three golds!
In cycling Stephen Brown of Livingston clinched gold in the 10km time trial with Andrew Holden of Cardiff getting a silver in the same event. Welshman Bhikhu Patel from Cardiff grabbed bronze in the 500m time trial whilst Sandra O’Keefe, also from Cardiff, picked up bronze in the womens’ 5km time trial.
Cycling head coach Tom A’Hara from Glasgow commented: “It’s been a magnificent day on the track for Team GB and we still have high hopes of further medals in the next few days.”
In the equestrian event there was a gold medal for Tayside’s Melissa Niven in the C class working trials and Jenny Moug from Perth collected a bronze in the B class working trials.
There was further success in the pool with Edinburgh’s David Fergus swimming a fantastic final lap to come from behind to win gold in the final of the 100m freestyle. Sarah Paschoud of London got silver in the womens’ 100m freestyle final. Andrew Gray of Tayside finished fifth in the 100m freestyle final with a personal best.
Swimming head coach Linda Shaw of Teeside exclaimed: “David’s performance was fantastic and I couldn’t ask for any more from the Team GB swimmers.”
The medal haul for Team GB now stands at 4 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze after four days of competition at what is the biggest sporting event of 2007.
All of the athletes competing in the World Games are being featured in action on a dedicated website at www.specialolympicslive.org.