Yuan Yanping

Yuan Yanping extended her unbeaten streak at the Paralympics by winning her third gold medal in as many Games at Rio 2016 in the over 70kg class.

She even made her achievement in Rio look effortless as she beat Turkey’s European champion Mesme Tasbag, home favourite Deanne Silva de Almeida and Uzbekistan’s Khaytjon Alimova all by ippon on her way to Paralympic gold.

“I would like to think I am invincible, but I am not,” said Yanping, who won the world and Asian Games title in 2014.

“Prior to every competition, I always study my rivals and how their judo style is. I am constantly reminding myself that every competitor has their unique strength so I need to remain focused and face each combat as a new tough challenge.”

Her road to Rio was not exempt from issues as she had to recover from an old injury, but the Chinese star proved to be up to the task once more.

Yanping’s first major title was on home soil at Beijing 2008, and followed that up with another gold at London 2012. Two years later, Yanping won the IBSA Judo World Championships in Colorado Springs, USA.