Anna Grimaldi has won gold in the women’s T47 long jump final today (Friday), breaking New Zealand’s 28 year medal drought in a Paralympic field event for women.
New Zealand last won a medal in a Paralympic field event for women in 1988.
It’s a promising start to this year’s Paralympic games in Rio, with swimmer Rebecca Dubber finishing third to take out bronze in the women’s 100m backstroke S7 final on the games’ opening day.
In dramatic form, the 19-year-old Dunedin athlete came back from third position to jump a stunning 5.62m.
She finished just 3 centimetres ahead of Cuba’s Yundis Castillo, who won silver, and five centimetres ahead of Australia’s Carlee Beattie, who won bronze.
Olympic medallist Lisa Carrington’s steps to gold
Anna’s gold-winning effort was her sixth and final attempt, and the determined Kiwi gave it everything she had.
The huge jump seems to have even shocked Anna, who looked as though she could scarcely believe she’d made the mammoth leap.
She is ranked third in the world, and last year took out bronze for previous best jump of 5.41m at the world championships in Doha.
Her coach, Brent Ward is thrilled by the young Kiwi’s win, Stuff reports.
“Anna had nothing to lose on her final attempt and it was a brilliant jump.
“Anna has been doing some really good training before she left. She’s a very good competitor and extremely determined.”