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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 10 Sep 2008 Title: SA team scoops two more medals at Paralympics -------------------- Beijing - The South African Paralympic team has scooped another two medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. South African swimmer Kevin Paul and Oscar Pistorius have both won gold medals which will be added to the five already earned by their teammates earlier this week. Paul won gold in the men's 100m breastroke at the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing on Wednesday. He broke the world record and advanced to the final with 1 min 08.70 seconds. On Tuesday morning, Pistorius known as "Blade Runner" crossed the finish line ahead of Jerome Singleton of the United States during the final of men's 100m. He claimed the title of the event with a time of 11.17 seconds. The Blade Runner lost both his lower legs as an infant to a birth defect, was overwhelmed by the crowd during the race. "I wouldn't say the race was easy, but it was just great to be out here, take in the crowd and get the gold medal." As his starts are often his biggest challenge during races, it looked as if the race had got away from him, as Singleton of the United States approached the line beating his chest in triumph. Behind him, the other American stumbled and fell at about the 60m mark, leaving the way clear for the others to fight over the bronze medallist. The South Africa men's wheelchair basketball team also celebrated a victory in a preliminary match on Wednesday. They defeated Sweden 64-58. Marius Papenfus of South Africa scored the winning shot during the match at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. Earlier in the week swimmers Natalie du Toit and Charl Bouwer, equestrian jumper Phillipa Johnson and javelin thrower Nicholas Newman have earned five medals between them. Du Toit broke two world records for the women's 100m butterfly on Sunday and the 100m freestyle on Monday, earning herself two gold medals. She completed 100m butterfly with 1 minute 06.74 seconds and the 100m freestyle with 1 min 01.44 seconds. Following Du Toit's victory, Bouwer set a new world record and won the gold medal in the men's 400m freestyle with 4 min 14.02 seconds on Monday night. In the men's javelin on Monday night, Newman claimed the bronze medal for South Africa. Guo Wei from China took gold setting a new world record of 56.07m, while Piotrowski Pawei of Poland won the silver. In the Individual Championship Grade IV at the Shatin Equestrian Venue on Monday night, Johnson won the gold medal for South Africa. Johnson finished first on 69.290 percentage points, holding off a strong challenge from Norwegian athlete Lubbe Ann Cathrin, the gold medallist in the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. - BuaNews |
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