Latest NZ gold medallist: ‘I’m like wow, that’s so cool’
She was only 13 when she competed in her first Paralympics. Four years on, Nikita Howarth has a gold medal to treasure.
The 17-year-old Cambridge swimmer won her second medal in two days at the Rio Paralympics by winning the women’s 200m individual medley SM7 by five seconds.
It was another glorious day in the pool for New Zealand’s paraswimmers, with Sophie Pascoe claiming a second silver to go with her three gold medals.
In track and field, Kiwi flag bearer Holly Robinson won silver with a personal best in the women’s javelin F46, only beaten by a world record throw from Britain’s Hollie Arnold, as New Zealand moved to within two medals of their pre-games target of 18.
Howarth’s win means New Zealand have eight golds, five silver and three bronze medals.
The eight golds surpasses Australia’s seven, while New Zealand sits sixth on the overall medal tally.
Howarth said the efforts of her teammates inspired her in the pool.
‘‘When I see how well everyone else on the team is doing, it just buzzes me up and gets me going, because it’s so exciting seeing other New Zealand team members getting gold – I’m like wow, that’s so cool, that’s where I am from.’’
Howarth gained a bronze medal in the 50m butterfly S7 on Tuesday, but was in commanding form in the individual medley, after finishing fastest in the heats.
She won the final in 2:57.29, 5 seconds ahead of Tess Routliffe (Canada) and 7 seconds ahead of Courtney Jordan (USA).
‘‘It feels a lot different to come first in a race compared to coming third, but I do quite like both feelings – bronze and gold, I can’t ask for more than that.
‘‘It feels amazing to win medals in Rio, compared to London where I was still young. I have been going from strength-to-strength in training so when I come into a big competition I can smash it, so I am really happy.
Howarth will race for another medal in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB8 on Thursday.
Pascoe won her fifth medal in Rio with a silver medal in her last event of the Games, which now means her Paralympics medal tally of 15 makes her the most successful Kiwi competitor, surpassing Eve Rimmer’s record.
The 23-year-old Christchurch para-swimmer finished second behind Canada’s Aurelie Rivard, who won gold with a personal best time of 59.31s.
‘‘Aurelie was the better person on the day,’’ Pascoe said.
‘‘I gave it everything, I’ve left everything out in that last race and that’s all I can give.
‘‘To be able to back up race after race in five days, which equals 10 races, is pretty challenging in itself. To be honest I am happy with how its ended. It may not be the gold but it’s been a tough week and it’s been an amazing week also.’’
Pascoe clocked a time of 59.85 and qualified for the final of the women’s 100m freestyle S10 second fastest behind the Canadian. France’s Elodie Lorandi claimed bronze.
New Zealand’s greatest ever Paralympian now has nine gold and six silver medals to her name since her debut in the Beijing Games in 2008.
Robinson won New Zealand’s first medal of the day, throwing a personal best to claim silver in the women’s javelin F46. She threw 41.22m with her fifth attempt in hot conditions, and was only beaten by a world record throw of 43.01m from British para-athlete Arnold.
The 21-year-old from Hokitika was world number No 1 in the event after starring on the international stage since competing at the Paralympics in London four years ago, where she finished seventh.
She’s won bronze and silver medals in the last two athletics world championships, in 2013 and 2015, and said she was ‘super stoked’ to win silver, despite coming so close to winning gold in Rio’s blistering heat.
‘‘I’m so happy with today. I went out and did what I wanted to do, and that was a personal best,’’ she said.
‘‘I did that and it was amazing out there. The crowd was awesome. It was an awesome atmosphere.
‘‘I’m just super stoked and it’s been an amazing experience walking into the stadium from the opening ceremony.
‘‘It’s been a pretty cool experience.’’
Paralympics debutant Hamish Mclean missed out on a podium finish after finishing seventh in the final of the men’s 400m freestyle S6 final.
Reigning world champion, Italy’s Francesco Bocciardo, won gold with a time of 5 minutes and 2.15s.
Wanaka para-swimmer Mclean, who’s 16, clocked a time of 5:30.63 after qualifying sixth fastest for the final.
New Zealand’s youngest Paralympian in Rio, 15-year-old Tupou Neiufi, finished fifth in her heat and couldn’t make the final of the women’s 50m freestyle S9.
Para-shooters Michael Johnson and Jason Eales both missed out on qualifying for the final of the R5 mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2.
Former Paralympic champion and two-time bronze medallist Johnson spent most of the qualifying rounds in the top three, before one poor round sent him to the back of the field.
Paralympic debutant Eales also shot in the event but could only finish 17th, and he didn’t make the final.
The Sonar para-sailing crew of Rick Dodson, Chris Sharp and Andrew May have dropped from second to fourth overall, after tricky conditions at Rio’s Marina da Gloria initially suspended the second day of competition.
Only one of the two scheduled races took place due to a lack of wind in scorching conditions on the water, with temperatures as high as 38 degrees celsius.
Australia retained their lead after finishing fifth, as New Zealand’s team, who finished sixth, fell behind Canada and Greece.