31 Aug 2021

Two more medals to NZ tally

12:17 am on 31 August 2021

New Zealand athlete William Stedman has won silver at the Tokyo Paralympics.

William Stedman

William Stedman Photo: Photosport

The 21-year-old, who collected bronze in the 400m and 800m at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, has finished second in the men's T36 long jump final.

Sitting fifth going into the sixth and final round of jumps, Stedman saved his best for last to claim silver with a leap of 5.64 metres.

The Russian Paralympic Committee's Evgenii Torsunov won gold with 5.76m, while Ukranian bronze medallist Roman Pavlyk was just one centimetre shy of Stedman's mark.

Stedman could again go home from a Paralympics with multiple medals when he raced in the men's T36 400m on Tuesday.

Meanwhile swimmer Sophie Pascoe has claimed her first Paralympic bronze medal.

The nine-time Paralympic gold medallist has finished third in the women's S9 100 metres backstroke final in Tokyo tonight.

Pascoe, the world record holder in the event, looked on track for a 10th gold when she touched at the halfway point in front.

Sophie Pascoe has won a second medal at the World Para Swimming Champs in London.

Sophie Pascoe has won a second medal at the World Para Swimming Champs in London. Photo: Photosport

But the Cantabrian was unable to maintain that pace, fading in the final 50 metres to finish third behind American Hannah Aspden and Nuria Marques Soto of Spain.

"It's a nice change of colour to add to the collection," Pascoe said.

"More than ever these medals mean everything. I never used to race for medals, I used to race for times.

"But I've come into this meet racing for the medals due to the world circumstances and the previous year I've gone through.

"I am hoping for a podium finish in each of my races. To get on the podium is a massive achievement."

It was Pascoe's 17th Paralympic medal overall, and second medal of these Games after she earlier picked up silver in the 100 metres breastroke.