Sandilands wins Paralympic gold in world-record time

Ben Sandilands timed his run to perfection to take gold

Great Britain's Ben Sandilands set a new world record to claim T20 1500m Paralympic gold as defending champion Jonathan Broom-Edwards failed to win a medal in his high jump event.

Sandilands, 21, put in a storming last lap in the T20 race for athletes with intellectual impairments to finish in three minutes 45.40 seconds - beating the old mark held by American Mikey Brannigan by 0.10secs.

It is Britain's fifth gold of the Para-athletics programme in Paris.

Broom-Edwards, who finished fifth in his T64 event with 1.89m, revealed after his T64 competition he had sustained a fractured ankle and torn ligaments in training six weeks ago, which needed surgery and he had intense rehab to be able to compete.

"Just to be on the start line, to be amongst it all, to be amongst the crowd, I'm truly blessed," he said.

"It's been the hardest I've had to work in my life."

There was a silver for wheelchair racer Marcus Perrineau-Daley in the T52 100m event on his Paralympic debut.

The 35-year-old Londoner, who was paralysed in a motorbike accident in 2014, led Belgian Maxime Carabin at the halfway mark before the world-record holder came through strongly to win.

Two more medals followed for ParalympicsGB in Friday's evening session at Stade de France.

Hollie Arnold took bronze in the women's F46 javelin before the 4x100m universal relay team of Jonnie Peacock, Sammi Kinghorn, Ali Smith and Zac Shaw finished second behind China.

Sandilands was third at the bell in his race but the Scot timed his run to perfection, accelerating away over the final 300m to finish clear of Portugal's Sandro Baessa (3:49.46) with Brannigan, the Rio gold medallist, third (3:49.91).

"It's an amazing feeling," he said after becoming the second consecutive British winner of the race following fellow Fife AC club-mate Owen Miller, who triumphed in Tokyo in 2021.

"I've put in so much hard work and I want to thank my family and friends, and my coach Steve Doig.

"I knew I had the speed in me at the end from my training.

"The timing has to be perfect and I went for it, and the world record means a lot. It's incredible."

Broom-Edwards beats the odds to be in Paris

Broom-Edwards already has Paralympic gold and silver medals to his name

Broom-Edwards had first-time clearances at 1.80m and 1.89m - well below his season's best of 2.04m.

He twice failed to clear 1.97m and opted to pass on his third effort before missing with his only attempt at 2m.

He admitted it was only two days before competition that his participation was confirmed.

"The surgeon said that I had a 1% chance of competing and I went into some dark places, but I made it here and I'm truly proud of what I've been able to achieve," he said.

"I'm a winner at heart because I made it - and against all odds.

"Monday was the first time I jumped over a bar off a short approach and I was able to do it, but it was uncomfortable.

"On Wednesday, once we got out here, I did a full run-up session and then it was like 'it was OK, we'll see what we can do'.

"I can't dwell because I couldn't expect myself to be at my best like I was before the injury - but to just give myself that chance, I’m really happy."