9 September 2008

Triple Paralympic champion Kenny Churchill suffered disappointment in the F37/38 javelin as he failed to take a medal for the first time in his fifth Paralympic Games.

After winning bronze in Barcelona 16 years ago, the 33-year-old Loughorough-based athlete was aiming for his fourth gold but came up against some tough opposition in the form of China’s powerful pair Xia Dong and Zhang Xuelong plus 90,000 lively Chinese fans.

Xia effectively ended the contest with his first effort when he launched the spear to 57.81, a masive world record. Churchill tried to respond and produced a season’s best of 47.30m but it wasn’t enough to get among the medals.

The Middlesbrough man finished sixth as Zhang took the silver with 50.24 and Iran’s Javad Hardani the bronze.

“I am very disappointed,” said Churchill. “I wanted to do it for my daughter Gracie and win her a medal. She’s at home now and she’s only 10 months old.

“My technique wasn’t right today, I’m not sure why. I feel like I have let myself down, my family down, and my coach down. But I’ll be back, I hope to compete in 2012.”

David Weir braved the pouring rain in the Bird’s Nest this evening to qualify for his first final of the Games.

Weir, who’s targeting five gold medals in Beijing, said he was relieved to get through winning the semi-final in 47.46, the fastest of the round.

“I’m struggling with a cold and a bit of fatigue,” he said. “It’s frustrating but I’m relieved to get to the final.”

For news updates on ParalympicsGB please visit www.paralympics.org.uk