Tupou Neiufi wins New Zealand’s first gold at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics

Tupou Neiufi had an emotional victory as she clinched New Zealand’s first gold medal at this edition of the Paralympic Games on August 27.

Tupou Neiufi of Team New Zealand reacts after winning the gold medal in the women’s 100m backstroke S8 final on day 3 of Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on August 27, 2021. (Photo: Getty Images)
Tupou Neiufi of Team New Zealand reacts after winning the gold medal in the women’s 100m backstroke S8 final on day 3 of Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on August 27, 2021. (Photo: Getty Images)

The 20-year-old athlete clocked in at 1:16:84 in the women's 100m backstroke S8 final, leaving Ukraine's Kateryna Denysenko to claim silver and pre-event favourite Jessica Long of the USA to settle for bronze. This is the first Paralympic title of Neiufi, who first participated in Rio 2016 where she placed 7th in the same event.

USA's Robert Griswold clinched gold in the men's 100m backstroke S8 competition in a world record time of 1:02.55, beating the previous world and Paralympic record set at Rio 2016. Spain's Inigo LLopis Sanz and China’s LIU Fengqi came away with the silver and bronze respectively.

It was another world record for Great Britain's Reece Dun as he won the men's 200m freestyle S14 in 1:52.40, smashing his previous world record set in 2019.

Zheng Tao, Wang Lichao and Yuan Weiyi made a splash as they clinched the top three spots in the men's 50 butterfly - S5 final. Zheng, who holds the world record in this event, claimed gold after hitting the wall 30.62 whilst Wang finished 1.19 seconds behind to win silver. Meanwhile, Yuan finished at 32.00 to pick up bronze.

Cycling track

Three world records have been broken today in cycling track after Zhangyu Li of China stormed to gold and clocked in 52.672 in the men's C1 1000m, followed by Alexandre Leaute of France in C2 class with a record-breaking silver at 52.015 and Jaco van Gass of Great Britain who finished at new world record of 54.904 in C3.

Leaute can now add this silver to his trophy cabinet after he secured gold yesterday in the men's C2 3000m individual pursuit. Gass also won his first-ever Paralympic gold yesterday in the men's C3 3000m individual pursuit, whilst LI took bronze.

In the women's C4 500m time trial, Kadeena Cox won gold clocking in a world-record breaking finish at 51.706 whilst Kate O'Brien from Canada settled for silver. Caroline Groot took bronze in C5 with also a record-breaking time of 50.563.

After winning bronze in the men's C4-5 1000m trial on August 26, Josef Metelka of Slovakia added a gold medal to his tally after claiming top spot in the men's C4 4000m individual pursuit today.

Dorian Foulon blasted to gold in the men's C5 4000m individual pursuit bringing a second gold for France at Tokyo 2020.

Judo

Shahana Hajiyeva of Azerjaiban stunned reigning champ Sandrine Martinet of France with an ippon in the women's -48kg event B2, winning the first gold medal in judo at Tokyo 2020. The 21-year-old, who made her Paralympic debut, will also come home bringing Azerbaijan's first gold medal at the summer's Games. Sandrine Martinet will not come home empty-handed, as she also clinched a silver medal.

Athletics

Dong Feixia of China defended her discus F55 title from Rio 2016 with a throw of 26.64m achieved on the first attempt of the day. Diana Dadzite of Latvia turned her Rio 2016 bronze into silver with a throw of 25.02m (a new personal best), while Mexico's Rosa Maria Guerrero Cazares took bronze (24.11m).

Archery

It was an exciting first day for archery as nine new Paralympic records and one world record were set today during the qualification rounds at Yumenoshina Park, including five from Chinese athletes.

Source: Tokyo 2020