Pembroke smashes world record as teenagers seize the moment on day eight in Paris

All the highlights from another great day for ParalympicsGB in Paris.

Dan Pembroke shattered the Paralympic javelin world record in one of the best individual performances by any British athlete at Paris 2024.

The 33-year-old, competing in the F13 class for the visually impaired, threw the implement a stunning 74.49m in the fourth round.

Erasing the mark that stood at 71.01m from 2017, Pembroke went out to 71.15m in the third round and then added a staggering 3.34m to successfully defend his title.

For context, the men’s javelin title at the 2024 UK Athletics Championships was won in 75.06m.

Earlier at Stade de France, Sammi Kinghorn made it four medals from four races with silver in the women’s T53 400m.

Kinghorn beat Catherine Debrunner to 100m gold but the Swiss came charging back to win gold in a Paralympic record of 51.60s, with Kinghorn taking silver in 53.45.

“I’ve done a lot better than I thought I would coming in,” said Kinghorn. “I did hope that I could come away with medals from each of my four events and this has been my best Games by far.”

Anna Nicholson bagged bronze in the women’s F35 shot put with a best throw of 9.44m helping her improve on a sixth-place finish in Tokyo.

Elsewhere, it was a day for teenage dreamers as 13-year-old swimmer Iona Winnifrith and 14-year-old table tennis player Bly Twomey both won medals.

Twomey won her second bronze on Paralympic debut, the youngster from Brighton narrowly beaten by world champion Kubra Korkut of Turkey in the women’s singles semi-finals.

She also got on the podium in the women’s doubles.

“It gives me a lot of hope to know that I’m on the same level as them and to know that I’ve got a bronze medal,” said Twomey. “It gives me a lot of confidence because I think maybe I could get a gold in the future.”

The youngest member of ParalympicsGB, Winnifrith set a British record to win silver in the women’s 100m breaststroke.

Winnifrith’s time of 1 minute 29.69 seconds saw her finish 3.60 seconds off neutral athlete Mariia Pavlova, who lowered her own world record, as she became GB’s youngest swimming medallist this century.

“Of course, I really wanted that gold, but you can’t have everything,” said Winnifrith. “I’m 13, I’m young, but I’m super happy with that performance.”

On another successful night in the La Defense Arena pool, Alice Tai won her fourth Paralympic medal with gold in the women’s 50m freestyle.

The 25-year-old claimed her second Paralympic title as she knocked 0.61 seconds off her personal best time since she had her leg amputated two years ago.

“It’s still pretty new and I’m still figuring it out,” said Tai. “I couldn’t be happier with the outcome, I have the full set and an extra gold, which is pretty cool.

Becky Redfern made it third time lucky as she finally struck gold in the women’s S13 100m breaststroke at Paris 2024.

The Droitwich swimmer had twice won silver in this event, at Rio 2016 and Tokyo five years later.

Meanwhile, Britain’s wheelchair basketballers ended 28 years of hurt by smashing Germany to reach the gold medal game.

After six successive semi-final defeats stretching back to Sydney 2000, Britain won 71-43 to make their first final since 1996.

Terry Bywater, who carried the ParalympicsGB flag at the Opening Ceremony, finally tasted victory having been part of all six semi-final losses.

“This is something I’ve dreamt of since Sydney,” said the 41-year-old. “I got emotional after the final whistle because this is why I play basketball.

“The quarter and semi-final are the worst games you can play in and this has been 24 years in the making. I’ve never made it this far before, it’s like I’m in a dream.

“We’re just playing so well right now and I have huge belief in the group. We’re just one game away.”

Powerlifting has been the viral hit of the Games so far with some competitors lifting three times their body weight to win gold.

GB have now won three medals in the unique discipline with Mark Swan taking silver in the 65kg category and Olivia Broome bronze at 50kg.