Australia have taken their Paralympics medal tally to 14 after swimmers Katja Dedekind and Keira Stephens added two to the haul.
Dedekind claimed bronze in the S13 100m backstroke on Thursday night, one of four medals for their country on day two of the 2020 Games.
The 20-year-old Queenslander, who is visually impaired, had also won bronze at Rio 2016. And at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre she did it again, this time with a personal best that had her in tears on TV.
“Oh, that’s awesome, a PB and a medal,” Dedekind told Seven. “Five years on, I’m doing the same thing again. It’s incredible, I just didn’t know what I was going to be able to do coming into competition.”
Dedekind clocked one minute 6.49 seconds as American Gia Pergolini broke her own world record to win in 1:04.64, with Italian Carlotta Gilli 1.46 seconds behind in second.
Stephens also won bronze in the SB9 100m breaststroke, behind Dutch star Chantalle Zijderveld, who broke her own world record with 1:10.99 and compatriot Lisa Kruger.
“I am so excited right now, I fought so hard in that race,” said the 18-year-old Stephens. “I love the Dutch girls, we always keep in contact.”
Australia had topped the medal tally after day one with six gold medals. There were no golds on day two, but one silver and three bronze to round out the evening in fourth on the table behind China, Great Britain and the Russian Paralympic Committee.
Track cyclist Darren Hicks won silver in the C2 individual pursuit after fastest qualifier Ewoud Vromont from Belgium was disqualified. The 36-year-old had qualified third-fastest and thought he would be riding for the bronze medal, but was elevated to the gold medal race against 20-year-old French rising star Alexandre Leaute, who comfortably accounted for the Australian in world record time.
David Nicholas also claimed bronze in the C3 individual pursuit.
There was better news in the wheelchair rugby, with the Australian men’s team holding off a plucky France for a crucial 50-48 win, in a rebound from their upset loss to Denmark on Wednesday. The Steelers face unbeaten Japan on Friday in the hope of a top-two finish and progression to the semi-finals.
The Rollers started their men’s wheelchair basketball campaign with an 81-39 demolition of Iran. But the women’s side, the Gliders, are 0-2 after going down to Germany 77-58.
There was table tennis joy for Ma Lin, Sam von Einem and Joel Coughlan, all of whom won their round-robin singles matches, though team co-captain Danni di Toro was defeated.
In equestrian, Australia’s Victoria Davies and Celere finished ninth in the Grade II dressage individual test. Sharon Davis on Romanos was 10th in Grade IV.
