Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager claim Australia's first para rowing gold in Games history, while Erik Horrie is elevated to bronze after Italian rival was disqualified for having a phone in his boat.
Nikki Ayers wants her victory alongside Jed Altschwager to be "a symbol of hope" after the duo won Australia's first Paralympic rowing gold in the PR3 mixed double sculls.
Ayers and Altschwager kicked off Australia's medal hunt on Sunday in the French capital, seeing off a challenge from Great Britain to win in a time of 7mins, 26 seconds.Their success on the water at Vaires sur Marne was boosted further when Erik Horrie claimed bronze later in the session in the men's PR1 single sculls.
Horrie initially finished fourth, but Italian rower Giacomo Perini was disqualified — he allegedly had a mobile phone in his boat during the race — to give the Australian a medal. Erik Horrie was awarded the bronze medal in the PR1 Men's Single Sculls after an Italian rival was found with a phone in his boat.Ayers, who was a promising rugby union player before injury forced her to undergo a leg amputation, was in a world of pain after the race but said their hard work had paid off."It is a symbol of hope and never giving up on your dreams.
"For every person out there with a disability, male, female, everyone, never give up and keep striving for your dreams and it'll come true."Ayers and Altschwager's gold added to last year's world championship triumph and their success was quickly followed by Horrie's fortunate bronze medal win."To be able to come away with a bronze is something that wasn't expected,' he said.
Paralympics Games 2024 Para Rowing Phone Protest Disqualification
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Paralympics medal tally: Here's Australia's team standings after day one of the ParalympicsKeep up with how many medals Aussie athletes won overnight — and where Australia sits on the leaderboard.
Read more »
Paralympics medal tally: Here's Australia's team standings after day two of the ParalympicsKeep up with how many medals Aussie athletes won overnight — and where Australia sits on the leaderboard.
Read more »
Paralympics medal tally: Here's Australia's team standings after day three of the ParalympicsKeep up with how many medals Aussie athletes won overnight — and where Australia sits on the leaderboard.
Read more »
Paris Paralympics 2024 day one: Australia's swimmers claim gold, silver and bronzeThomas Gallagher has claimed Australia's first gold medal of the Paralympics, with the country's medal tally sitting at four at the end of day one.
Read more »
Paris Paralympics 2024 day two: Australia's cyclists claim double goldEmily Petricola and Korey Boddington sealed two cycling golds at the velodrome, and Jessica Gallagher clinched silver, boosting Australia's medal tally at the end of day two of the Paris Paralympics.
Read more »
Jack Ireland wins Paris Paralympics bronze medal for AustraliaPara swimmer Jack Ireland said he was lost for words after winning his maiden Paralympic medal on day three in Paris.
Read more »