An emotional Dame Sarah Storey paid tribute to Tanni Grey-Thompson after becoming the most decorated British female Paralympian of all time on a golden evening for ParalympicsGB in the Velodrome.
Storey, who is competing in her seventh Paralympics, surpassed Grey-Thompson’s record of 11 gold medals after successfully defending her C5 3,000m individual pursuit title. The former wheelchair racer was sitting by the track as Storey won her 12th Paralympics gold.
“She’s always been an incredible supporter and mentor,” the 38-year-old said. “To think that I’m above her in everybody else’s books is just surreal. Tanni’s the woman. I’m really glad she was here. In London when I crossed that road race line she was on the other end of the phone. To have her here – and crying her eyes out, she said – was just a really special moment.” It is three years since Storey gave birth to her daughter, Louisa, and she has had to work hard in order to return to her physical peak. “Louisa’s first words were to tell me she’d fallen over and cut both knees,” Storey said. “And then she said ‘oh yes, well done mummy’.
“I’ve not seen her all day but I can’t wait to show her the medal. We’ll have a mild ‘hurrah’ and get back to business and training tomorrow.”
The British team top the cycling standings after the first four events. Megan Giglia won ParalympicsGB’s first gold in Rio in the C1-3 3,000m individual pursuit and Steve Bate and his pilot, Adam Duggleby, won the B 4000m tandem pursuit.
