5th September 2024

Dan Pembroke soars to golden world record as Kinghorn adds another silver at Paris 2024

Dan Pembroke demolished the men’s F13 javelin world record to successfully defend his Paralympic title in Paris.

The 33-year-old threw a huge 74.49m to successfully defend his Tokyo 2020 title in the best way possible in Paris, swiftly breaking his own record after reaching 71.15m on his third attempt.

Pembroke (John Trower, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) admitted that he never expected to throw 74m but after being diagnosed with AS just two months ago, has found himself at peak performance when it mattered.

And with 74m already in the bag, Pembroke teased that there might be more still to come.

“It was incredible,” he said. “I was doing my visualisations two days ago and I thought I had a 72m throw in me.

“That first world record (71.13m), I thought, that’s pretty good, just over the world record.

“Then the Iranian, Ali Pirouj, responded with a 69m throw, so I thought ‘the job’s not done yet’. I had to dig deep and really push that boundary a little bit more.

“This is what I love, I love javelin throwing. I’m in my element here.

“I’ve had no pain in my body for two months now because of my diagnosis so if I get a year’s training behind me, who knows what could happen. Let’s see what LA brings.”

Sammi Kinghorn (Rodger Harkins, Red Star) made it four medals from as many races as she clinched a third silver of the Games in the women’s 400m, clocking a time of 53.45.

After her golden exploits in the 100m the night before, Kinghorn was on top of the world and admitted that she hadn’t come down after reaching the podium once more at the Stade de France.

After holding off the charge from China’s Gao Fang and Zhou Hongzhuan on the home straight and powering home behind world record holder Catherine DeBrunner of Switzerland, Kinghorn might be in for another sleepless night in Paris.

“I’m absolutely buzzing, four from four, you can’t be disappointed with that,” she said.

“I was still lying awake at 3am last night just happy with myself so this is great.

“Gold last night was incredible for me and knowing that I had one last chance to come out and enjoy it today was great.

“It was a good race and I’m happy with the time as Catherine’s PB is about two and a half seconds faster than mine so she was always going to be quick.

“I wanted to make sure that the silver was well and truly mine and I’ve done that.”

Dan Greaves (Zane Duquemin, Charnwood) and Harrison Walsh (Ryan Spencer-Jones, Swansea) finished sixth and seventh respectively in the men’s F64 discus final.

Greaves, who had won medals at all six of his previous Paralympics, was unable to make it a magnificent seven with a best throw of 53.50m but is leaving with his head held high.

“I am a realist, seven Games and six medals is not a bad tally,” he said.

“It has taken getting to the grand old age of 41 to realise my past achievements are unreal. If you’d said to 13-year-old Dan that I’d have such a long career and medal at all these Championships, it’s just amazing. I have to be proud of myself.”

Elsewhere, Mel Woods (Rodger Harkins, Red Star) crossed the line in 55.39s for seventh in the women’s T54 400m and Nathan Maguire (Ste Hoskins, Kirkby AC) added a fourth place finish in the men’s T54 800m in a time of 1:31.09.

Marcus Perrineau-Daley finished second in his T52 100m heat in a 16.87 PB and will go for gold on Friday morning.