GB’s Cockroft wins 800m for ninth Paralympic gold

Great Britain’s Hannah Cockroft won her ninth career Paralympic gold medal as she led a British double in the 800m T34 final at Paris 2024.

A dominant Cockroft finished ahead of teammate Kare Adenegan, just as she did in Sunday’s 100m final, to win her second title in Paris.

Cockroft has won gold in the 100m and 800m at every Paralympic Games since London 2012, and took the 400m title at Rio 2016.

She finished in a time of one minute 55.44 seconds, almost eight seconds ahead of silver medallist Adenegan, while American Eva Houston denied the Britons a clean sweep of the podium by outsprinting Fabienne Andre to take bronze.

Elsewhere, Ndidikama Okoh took bronze in the women’s 100m T63, while Aled Davies failed to win gold at her fourth consecutive Paralympic Games.

The 33-year-old Welshman took the lead in the men’s F63 shot put with a 15.10m effort in round three but had to settle for silver after Kuwait’s Faisal Sorour threw 15.31m in round four.

Gold is the perfect preparation for the wedding.

Cockroft, 31, further cemented her reputation as one of the greatest Paralympians of all time.

Her title comes three weeks and five days before her wedding.

“(My fiancé’s) voice was the last one I heard,” she told Channel 4. “It means a lot. He understands what’s behind that performance.”

“I’m going to go home, have an amazing wedding and have a wonderful life.”

With 16 world titles and the world record in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m in her discipline, Cockroft was the big favourite at the Stade de France.

He got off to a superb start in lane eight, quickly building a substantial lead and racing against the clock to the finish.

He celebrated by ringing the bell at the side of the track nine times, once for each of his Paralympic medals, to enthusiastic cheers.

“The atmosphere was amazing,” he added. “I could feel the noise following me everywhere. It’s like being back in London. I love it.”

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