A “numb” Jaryd Clifford is reeling from the heartache of being told his Paralympics bronze medal had been snatched away from him after the 5000m runner was disqualified for a breach of rules.
Clifford crossed the line third in the men’s T13 final at the Stade de France on Saturday local time.
But the visually-impaired runner was told by officials he had been disqualified for dropping the tether which linked him to guide Matt Clarke as he crossed the line.
Clifford, the only runner in the race to use a guide, was visibly distraught while speaking to reporters after hearing his bronze had been taken away from him.
The 25-year-old had hoped to appeal but he was told by the International Paralympic Committee he had no grounds to challenge their verdict.
“I went and saw mum and dad and my girlfriend and broke down,” Clifford said.
“I had my little cry on the side of the track.
“If you talk about reacting to results as grief, I had my grieving moment.
“Out on the track, I was a little bit numb, I’m still a bit numb … I am pretty shattered, to be honest, if I’m frank about it, we went in with the aim of winning gold.”
Clifford’s devastation was plain to see and the dramatic and confusing circumstances of his disqualification capped a roller-coaster first hour on the track.
On the track: Australia takes home bronze, silver
As Clifford was seeking answers, Madison de Rozario finished with a bronze in the women’s T54 5000m final.
It was the 30-year-old’s seventh Paralympic medal with her attention now turning to the 1500m and the marathon.
Soon after de Rozario crossed the finish line, Michael Roeger, scooped silver in the men’s T46 1500m.
“Thankfully, I did enough early to stand on top of that podium … I’m bloody proud with how I’ve gone the last three years,” Roeger said.
“I left it all out there early and just came up short but it’s not the end of the world if I come second.”
At the velodrome: Back-to-back gold
Amanda Reid could not hide her delight as she continued Australia’s strong form at the velodrome, defending her C1-3 500m time trial Paralympic gold medal in style.
The back-to-back triumph was particularly significant for Reid, who became the first Indigenous Australian to seal a gold medal when she won the same race at Tokyo three years ago.
The 28-year-old raced through her two laps on Saturday for a factored time of 36.676 to ensure she will be Paralympic champion until Los Angeles in four years.
Reid’s first place added to the at the Paris’s National Velodrome 24 hours earlier.
Australia wins gold in para table tennis
It wasn’t until late in the night that Australia had a second gold medal when the Chinese-born duo Lina and Qian grabbed a 11-7, 11-6, 2-11, 12-10 win in the women’s doubles para table tennis.
Coach Maggie Meng said the pair’s strong personal connection has meant they are in sync whenever they play with one another.
“On the table, they have been playing with each other for years, and off the table they’re the best of friends,” Meng said.
“Qian is mentality is so strong, and Lina is just so experienced.
“They play like one person, there’s no gaps between them.”
Australia’s Li Na Lei (left) and Qian Yang win gold in the Women’s Double (WD20) para table tennis. Source: AAP / GREG SMITH
The medal was Qian’s seventh Paralympic medal, the 28-year-old having won three while competing for China.
Lina, meanwhile, picked up her 10th Paralympic medal and said the chance to do it alongside her childhood friend held extra significance.
“It’s exciting to get our first doubles gold medal. it’s a different meaning for us, because last time in Tokyo, we only got single medals,” Lina said.
“I got a lot of medals, but every time I still feel a different meaning … we are very close friends, we know each other from when Qian was a child.”
