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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ed Elliot, PA & Josh Luckhurst

Para-cyclist Scot Neil Fachie and wife Lora claim gold medals in world-record style

Husband and wife cyclists Neil and Lora Fachie each claimed gold in world-record fashion on a glittering start to day four of the Tokyo Paralympics for Great Britain.

Aberdeen's Neil Fachie and pilot Matt Rotherham powered home in 58.038 seconds to snatch top spot on the podium in the men’s B 1000m time trial just ahead of compatriot James Ball.

Liverpool-born Lora then secured an extraordinary story at the Izu Velodrome as she and partner Corrine Hall defeated Ireland’s Katie-George Dunlevy in the final of the women’s B 3000m individual pursuit in an unprecedented time of 3:19.560.

The wins brought ParalympicGB’s 10th and 11th golds of the Games.

Neil Fachie told Channel 4: "We knew today was a big day for the team.

"We were the first medal ride, we had to deliver, not just did we do it but to see our team-mate (Ball) get the silver as well, breaking the world record.

"We thought we would have to break it (world record) to win the gold. I knew we could go quick. All the talk has been about breaking that 59-second barrier; we almost broke the 58-second barrier. It's phenomenal.

"Then to watch my wife go and win gold, it was just unreal. Wow, what a day. You never forget this."

Lora Fachie added: "I've never successfully defended a title before so I'm just delighted and it's been an incredible day. For me, it's been a childhood dream to be a world record holder and I am thanks to this one (Hall)."

Neil Fachie shaved 1.2secs off his global best to take glory, pushing Ball and his pilot Lewis Stewart into silver following their pace-setting ride of 59.503 secs.

In the process, the 37-year-old picked up his third Paralympic medal in the event following a gold at London 2012 and silver at Rio 2016.

Lora Fachie’s triumph was her third Paralympic title, following two golds in Brazil five years ago.

In addition to Fachie family dominance and silver for Ball, there was also a bronze for debutant Sophie Unwin during a remarkable period of action.

Unwin and tandem partner Jenny Holl clinched third place behind Lora Fachie and Dunlevy in a time of 3:23.446 by beating Belgium’s Griet Hoet in a head-to-head.

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