Pembroke strikes javelin gold on record-breaking night of athletics

Daniel Pembroke stormed to a sensational javelin gold medal on another medal-filled night of athletics for ParalympicsGB.

The F13 athlete set a new Paralympic record with a massive throw of 69.52m in round three to beat the previous best by nearly four metres.

Pembroke had to wait for the competition to begin after torrential rain in Tokyo forced the javelin final to be delayed.

But he wasn’t to be denied, giving himself a day he’ll never forget and ParalympicsGB a first medal in the men’s F13 event.

“It is the best day of my life. It is an amazing experience and I can’t put it into words, I know everyone says that but it is true,” he said.

“There are so many words to describe what just happened and I am so, so happy.

“The trend at the moment is that I go out really tense and it takes me a while to get relaxed but when I do the big throws really come out.”

Elsewhere, Dan Greaves became the first ParalympicsGB athlete to win an athletics medal at six consecutive Games after netting bronze in the F64 discus final.

The 38-year-old’s best throw went 53.56 metres in tough conditions and he finished just 38 centimetres ahead of USA’s David Blair.

Greaves, who won his first medal at Sydney 2000, now has one gold, two silvers and three bronze medals and admits this one feels extra special following an injury-hit five years.

“Where do you put them?” he said.

“This is what it is all about for me, I thought I had maybe had my day but it is nice to walk away with a medal from another Games.

“I have been through some tough times and it is really hard to describe the dark moments. I was told I could crack my hip if I keep training at the intensity I was and I didn’t really fancy a replacement.

“I want to be able to play with my kids and do everything a dad should, so I took six months off in 2019. My body is now able to cope with the load it is given and I have fallen back in love with it.”

Sammi Kinghorn won bronze in the T53 100m on Wednesday and instantly upgraded to silver in the 400m with a brave performance from lane six.

The 25-year-old finished in 57.25 seconds to beat China’s Hongzhuan Zhou by just 0.04s, while Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner won gold.

Kinghorn’s family have been throwing a party each time she’s competed and she can’t wait to get home to join the celebrations.

She said: “My dad put a marquee outside the house and I have nine or ten friends staying there. I am hoping they are going to organise a big better for when I get home. Cake and fizz is what I’m going for.

“There is one colour missing and I believe I can be Paralympic champion one day and I think it is just learning, it is getting into that mental state and getting prepared.

“I know physically I can be the best in the world, it’s just making sure mentally I can follow it.”

Meanwhile, Sophie Kamlish reached the final of the T64 100m by finishing third in her heat in a time of 13.32 and will go for a medal on Friday.