Davies in dreamland after winning third consecutive Paralympic gold

Aled Davies dedicated his third consecutive Paralympic gold to his one-year-old daughter after an imperious display in Tokyo.

The 30-year-old successfully defended his shot put F42 title from Rio 2016 with a 15.33m throw in the fourth round, adding to the discus F42 gold he won at London 2012.

Davies’ daughter Phoebe turns two on September 14 and he is already looking ahead to the next Games in Paris, where he hopes to strike gold at a fourth straight Games with his family by his side.

“There’s so much emotion. It’s been a long 18 months and five-year cycle,” he said.

“I’ve learnt so much over the last 18 months and had to evolve and adapt and become self-sufficient almost. It’s so hard to win medals – the conditions, everything was against me out there.

“I wanted to put down some big throws and nothing was letting me in that slippery surface. I’m taking this medal home to my little girl.”

Meanwhile, Kadeena Cox had no regrets after her bid for an athletics and cycling golden double fell just short. 

Cox pulled off the feat five years ago in Rio and won two titles at the velodrome last week but she finished just outside the medals in the defence of her 400m T38 title on the athletics track. 

However, given she’s been struggling with a double Achilles injury – which kept her off the track for most the season – her season’s best time of 1:01.16 was noteworthy and it took Germany’s Lindy Ave to set a world record to dethrone her. 

“I’ve had a really turbulent time but that’s the fastest I’ve run since Rio, which is pretty incredible,” she said. 

“Fourth place is hard but I’m proud of myself but as an athlete you always want a medal and something to show for it. 

“I came in really not sure how I’d perform but you want to be the athlete you know and I wanted to defend my title.” 

Cox’s ParalympicsGB teammate Ali Smith finished eighth in the same race, crossing the line in 1:03.05.