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2 Sep 2012

Welshman Davies wins discus gold

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In a throw that breaks a new European record, first-time Paralympian Aled Davies wins gold to deafening cheers from the crowds. He tells Channel 4 News he had dreamed of his victory lap.

The 21-year-old was already guaranteed the title when he stepped into the circle for his final throw of the F42 competition, and had a tear in his eye.

The Olympic Stadium crowds roared him on and he punched the air as soon as he finished before running to hug his family and draping himself in the Union flag for a lap of honour.

“It was incredible out there. It’s addictive,” said Davies, who represented Wales at swimming before turning his attention to athletics in 2006. “Those roars are just something else. It wouldn’t have mattered where I finished, those guys would have been cheering whatever happened.”

I just want to be recognised as an elite athlete now, because I feel that sometimes we are not recognised as elite athletes and we don’t get the recognition. Aled Davies

Davies’ throw broke a new European record of 46.14m and adds to the Bridgend athlete’s bronze medal for shot put earlier in the Games. The athlete was born with talipese and hemi-hemilia in his right leg, which means the limb is missing bones, muscle and ligaments and is supported with a brace.

After winning, the thrower said he would love to be acknowledged by getting the chance to go on the pitch ahead of a Wales rugby union international at the Millennium Stadium.

“I just want to be recognised as an elite athlete now, because I feel that sometimes we are not recognised as elite athletes and we don’t get the recognition,” he said. “I just want everyone to know that I have put in all the hard work to be here where I am now.

“I want to keep pushing the boundaries of the sport as much as I can. If I can push up to an able-bodied standard I would love to do that.”

Medals a-plenty

ParalympicGB mixed cox four team also celebrated gold at Eton Dorney earlier in the day, made up of Pam Relph, Naomi Riches, David Smith and James Roe and cox Lily van den Broecke.

And in the second night in a row, Britain raced ahead in the Aquatic Centre, as Britain’s Jessica-Jane Applegate won the gold in the freestyle 200m.The teenager finished half a second ahead of her nearest rival Australia’s Taylor Corry.

Para GB’s Will Bayley won silver in the table tennis after losing in the final to defending champion Jochen Wollmert of Germany in four games.
Wollmert stormed into the lead early on taking the first game, before Bayley levelled. But the reigning champion proved too strong for the 24-year-old Briton who was overwhelmed by the German veteran who won 3 – 1 in a best of five.

Sophie Wells also won silver in grade 4 individual dressage, as did Stef Reid in the long jump.

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