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Disability Sport Contents:  Paralympics 2008

12:38 GMT, Tuesday, 16 September 2008 13:38 UK

Weir storms to second Games gold

Britain's David Weir claimed his second Paralympic gold in Beijing after dominating an action-packed T54 1500m race in the Bird's Nest in Beijing.

After his reinstated 800m gold on Sunday, Weir finished ahead of Thai Prawat Wahoram and Australia's Kurt Fearnley in wet conditions.

"This means more because it is the blue riband event of wheelchair racing," the 29-year-old from Surrey said.

Oscar Pistorius claimed his third gold and Chantal Petitclerc won her fifth.

The silvers won by Shelly Woods and Mickey Bushell, along with the bronzes claimed by Hazel Simpson, Ian Jones and the men's basketball team, lifted ParalympicsGB's medal-haul in Beijing beyond 100.

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Weir had started the Games looking for five golds, but after picking up a virus, he struggled to a bronze in the 5000m.

After a silver in the 400m, he won his first Paralympic gold in the 800m, and following Tuesday's victory in a time of 3 minutes 10.34 seconds, Weir was unsure if he would compete in the marathon.

"I need to speak to the doctors and I'll make a decision in the morning," he said. "If I'm tired, I won't do it, if I feel alright I will.

"It was dangerous today. I had to stop pushing because I was sliding everywhere, I've never had that before.

"I felt strong though and knew I had to stay calm, and I knew if I got to the outside I'd be okay."

South African Pistorius made it three Paralympic golds after cruising to victory in the 400m T44 final, with Britain's Jones picking up an excellent bronze.

Pistorius told BBC Sport: "I'm ecstatic - I couldn't be happier, it is a dream come true (to win three golds).

"I have a great team of coaches, friends and family behind me who are pillars of strength and this victory is for them too."

Woods won her second medal of the Games with silver in the 1500m - finishing behind Canadian Petitclerc, 38, who claimed her fifth gold in Beijing and 13th in her Paralympic career.

Bushell was just 0.09 seconds behind American Josh George to win a fine silver in the T53 100m, while Simpson won bronze in the T36 100m.

Earlier on Tuesday, Britain's Nathan Stephens agonisingly missed out on a F57/58 javelin bronze.

The 20-year-old was in third place before Czech thrower Rostislav Pohlmann surpassed the Cardiff student's 38.56m.

GB's Danny Nobbs was 10th in the F53/54 shot put with a best throw of 9.13m and Libby Clegg failed to qualify for the T12 200m B final.




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Related to this story:

Paralympics day 10 photos (16 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
Smyth claims second Beijing gold (16 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
GB basketball team clinch bronze (16 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
Gold for Weir after appeal U-turn (14 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
Miller's Paralympic gold run ends (15 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
Schedule - Tuesday 16 September (27 Aug 08 |  Paralympics )
Greaves is 'gutted' to miss gold (15 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
GB basketball team finish eighth (15 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
Triple silver for GB in the pool (15 Sep 08 |  Paralympics )
A-Z of Paralympic classification (28 Aug 08 |  Paralympics )
Paralympics on the BBC (25 Aug 08 |  Paralympics )
GB Paralympic team for Beijing (24 Jul 08 |  Paralympics )

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Disability Sport Contents:  Paralympics 2008

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