Maton's double delight at European Championships

Polly Maton showed her prowess on the track and in the field on a ‘mad day’ at the World Para Athletics European Championships, bagging a brace of T47 bronzes in Berlin.

The 18-year-old sensation leapt onto the podium in the long jump in the morning session before outpacing her rivals to finish third in the 100m sprint.

The 5.28m jump that sealed her first medal was a lifetime best effort for the teenager from Wiltshire  – placing her well ahead of France’s Laurence Fibleuil in fourth.

Maton, who made her senior debut for ParalympicsGB at Rio 2016, earned silver in the event at last year’s World Championships on home soil.

Then a run of 13.45 secs was a fine return for an athlete who has never attempted two events in the same day at this level and admits the pit is her main aim.

Maton said: “It has been a bit of a mad day. I was a bit concerned coming in with two events in the same day.

“Leading up to this I didn’t know how I was going to perform so to come away with two bronze medals is amazing.

“I think the long jump is becoming more of my focus, it is where I can make the most improvements. I’m not going to dismiss the sprinting.

“The time wasn’t good but it is not really what Championships are about, to come away with a second bronze is a shock.”

In the first race of the evening in Germany, Welshman Rhys Jones romped to silver in the Men’s 100m T37.

The 24-year-old fell less than a tenth of a second short of the podium in the 200m despite a season’s best in the heats and was fired up to go one better over half the distance.  

He won double Commonwealth and European bronze over the distance four years ago and exceed that form with an outstanding run of 12.10 secs.

“I am over the moon. It has been a rollercoaster of a year, especially with the Commonwealth Games so much earlier in the season,” said Jones.

“Times weren’t an issue it was about coming out an executing. I knew if I could execute I could win a medal.

“I said that after the 200m where it didn’t happen but it was my time to shine this time and I delivered on the big stage.

“You don’t come here to make up the numbers. A gold medal would have been great but after agonisingly missing out on the podium in the 200m, this is redemption.

“I am just a boy from Rhondda on the big stage and I have come away with a major medal again.”

Elsewhere Steve Osborne secured his second medal of the Championships with bronze in then Men’s 200m T51.

The 55-year-old, who competed for ParalympicsGB at London 2012, is still going strong and a time of 47.35 secs placed him third to match his 100m success.

Friday’s haul took GB past Ukraine in the overall medal table but they remain third in the standings having won 14 gold medals.