Sarah Storey took Britain's first gold in Paralympics 2012

Cyclist Storey dominated the C5 Pursuit Final, bringing home GB’s first gold medal of the games...

14:56 03 September 2012

The 34-year old won Britain’s first gold medal for London 2012 Paralympics at the Velodrome, kick-starting her team’s medal rush.

 

This is Storey’s 19th Paralympics medal in two different sports, making her one of Britain’s greatest paralympians of all time. 

 

The athlete impressed spectators as she overtook Anna Harkowska, of Poland, despite her starting on the other side of the track.

 

Storey instantly ended the race, which should have been for 3,000 metres, when she caught up with her opponent on the seventh. 

 

Storey, who is always hoping to join the “able-bodied” Olympic games, proved she’s faster compared to Olympic medalist Joanna Rowsell.

 

Her heat time during Paralympics 2012, which was three minutes and 32.170 seconds, was quicker compared to Rowsell’s record on the same track in February.

 

Storey, who was also a champion swimmer before she switched to cycling due to ear infection, is set to participate in three more cycling events this week.

 

This will give her the chance to collect 11 gold medals to match the number of achievements of Baroness Grey-Thompson in the same field. 

 

She told the Mail Online after winning: “It is fantastic, a great feeling. I didn't expect to be able to catch her as quickly. I suppose it did look easy but mentally you have to prepare and make it happen. I have to respect all my competitors.”