Rio 2016 Paralympic Games | Athletics Day 1

Action on the track concludes on Thursday evening with the women’s 100m T38 heats, an event that has thrown up terrific rivalries at previous major championships. Great Britain’s Sophie Hahn is the reigning world champion and world record holder, China’s Junfei Chen won silver behind Hahn at Doha 2015, and Brazil’s Veronica Hipolito – who didn’t compete at the World Championships – is the reigning Parapan Am champion. Don’t dismiss Australia’s Ella Pardy either – the 25-year-old currently sits second in the world rankings. Eight gold medals will be decided out in the field on Thursday. The morning session features the men’s long jump T11, where London 2012 gold and silver medallists Rusian Kayshev of Ukraine and the USA’s Lex Gillette go head to head once again. Algeria’s Lahouari Bahlaz is the current world number one in the men’s shot put F32 – he starts alongside his compatriot Karim Betina, silver medallist in the shot put F32/33 four years ago and at last year’s World Championships. Latvia’s Aigars Apinis set a new world record on his way to winning the world discus F52 title last year and could be hard to beat once again, while in the women’s long jump T47 a thrilling competition is on the cards as all three medallists from Doha 2015 start. Australia’s Carlee Beattie, the current world record holder, won world gold with a leap of 5.75m last October – Cuba’s silver medallist Yunidis Castillo and New Zealand’s bronze medallist Anna Grimaldi will be hoping they can improve their personal bests and challenge for gold. For more information on the Rio 2016 Paralympic Game, please visit http://www.paralympic.org/rio-2016 Like us:   / paralympics   and follow us:   / paralympics   The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games were held from 7-18 September 2016. Athletes from more than 160 countries competed in 528 medal events in 22 different sports.