Rio 2016: Day nine preview
Barbara Niewiedzial is going for gold at Rio 2016 – four years after she contemplated retirement. 16 Sep 2016Four years ago Poland’s Barbara Niewiedzial was contemplating retirement, but winning gold at London 2012 in the women’s 1,500m T20 led her to continue competing.
Since then she has won four world and two European titles, and will be hard to beat at the Olympic Stadium on Friday (16 September).
The USA’s world and Paralympic champion Jeremy Campbell was hot favourite to win gold in the men’s discus F44.
However, the emergence of teammate David Blair, who broke Campbell’s world record, sets up a fight to the end. And with Trinidad & Tobago’s Akeen Stewart and Great Britain’s Dan Greaves also competing, this event could be a classic.
In road cycling, Israel Hilrio will look to claim victory for Peru in the men’s road race C 1-2-3. But after silver in the time trial C3, Japan’s Masaki Fujita will also challenge for the gold. He won the C3 race at the 2015 Worlds.
The USA’s Jamie Whitmore has been perfect on the World Championship scene in the C3 and will go for her first Paralympic medal in the road race C 1-2-3.
At the Aquatics Stadium, Ukraine’s Ievgenii Bogodaiko will compete in the men’s 100m freestyle S7. He has medalled in all six of his previous events, including three gold medals.
In the women’s 100m freestyle S7, Courtney Jordan finally secure gold. With two silvers and a bronze already in her count, the US swimmer is the world champion and she appears in the right form to improve on her silver from London 2012.
Two Brits will battle for gold in the men’s singles wheelchair tennis. Gordon Reid, who has already won the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, will face 18-year-old Alfie Hewett, while France’s silver medallist from London 2012 Stephane Houdet and Belgium’s Joachim Gerard will battle for the bronze.
Germany face USA in the final of the women’s wheelchair basketball, while Great Britain challenge the Netherlands for the bronze medal.
In boccia, medals across the individual BC1-4 will be decided. And Lithuania will seek their first gold medal when they face USA in the men’s goalball final. Brazil face Sweden in the bronze medal showdown.