Four world records were set in seven finals as Lucas Prado (Brazil), Hilton Langenhoven (South Africa), Alexey Ashapatov (Russia) and Abraham Cheruiyot Tarbei (Kenya) all claimed their respective second gold medals in Athletics.
Men's 5000m - T46
It was an even field in the first two laps until Kenya's Tarbei took the lead, followed closely by Ethiopia's Tesfalem Gebru Kebede, with both runners pacing themselves but keeping ahead of the rest. Tarbei broke away on the penultimate lap, lapped four runners, and won gold, shattering US runner Ron Evan's Sydney world record (14:39.15) by clocking 14:20.88. This is Tarbei's second gold medal and world record of the competition, his first from the Men's 1500m – T46 on Wednesday, September 10.
The fight for second and third place intensified as Kebede slowed, allowing, first Tunisia's Mohamed Fouzai, and then Mexican Mario Santillon, to pass him. Fouzai finished in 14:38.96 for the silver medal, and Santillan came in at 14:43.96 for the bronze medal.
Women's 200m – T36
China's Wang Fang did not disappoint her fans as she dashed to the finish line of the Women's 200m – T36 to take gold in 29.57. Claudia Nicoleitzik (Germany) won the silver medal with 31.48, followed by Hazel Simpson (Great Britain), who finished in 32.43 for bronze.
Men's 200m – T11
Prado continued his gold medal-winning performance when he crossed the finish line in the Men's 200m – T11 in 22.48 seconds, breaking his own world record of 22.70. On Tuesday he won the Men's 100m - T11. Angola's Jose Armando had to take a back seat to Prado yet again, taking his second silver medal for a time of 22.70 seconds (his first in the Men's 100m – T11), while Arian Iznaga of Cuba took bronze with 22.79 seconds.
Women's 400m – T12
Assia El'Hannouni of France has got her gold. After she expressed disappointment in a silver medal for Tuesday's Women's 800m T12/13, El'Hannouni stepped up her performance, winning the Women's 400m - T12 in 55.06. Her old world record (53.67, set in Athens) remains unbeaten. Ukraine's Oxana Boturchuk claimed silver with a run of 55.88 seconds and Brazil's Terezinha Guilhermina won bronze with 57.02 seconds.
Men's Discus – F57/58
Ashapatov won gold in the Men's Discus - F57/58 and broke a long-standing F58 world record (55.60 meters, set in 1998) with his third attempt of 57.61m (1,079 points). Ashapatov is also the winner of and world record holder in the Men's Shot Put F57/58 on Tuesday.
China's Zheng Weihai took silver with 49.09 m (1,052 points) and stole the F57 world record (47.53m) from bronze medalist Rostislav Pohlmann from the Czech Republic. Athens gold medalist Pohlmann won the bronze medal with 45.48m (975 points) based on the multi-classification event point system.
Men's Long Jump – F12
Langenhoven took his second gold medal in Athletics in 24 hours, his first being from Friday evening's Men's Pentathlon – P12. His fourth attempt jump of 7.31m in the Men's Long Jump – F12 was not enough to break his world record (7.43m) set in 2007, but it was good enough for gold. Osamah Alshanqiti of Saudi Arabia and Athens gold medalist Oleg Panyutin of Azerbaijan both jumped the same distance, but Alshanqiti's 7.06m (+0.3) was awarded the silver medal, and Panyutin (7.06m / +0.6) had to settle for bronze. Alshanqiti is the gold medalist and world record (15.37) holder of the Men's Triple Jump - F12.
Men's Discus - F11/12
Ukraine won gold and bronze in the Men's Discus – F11/12 through Vasyl Lishchynskyi and Oleksandr Iasynovyi. Lishchynskyi had to wait until his last attempt throw of 40.59m (991 points) to claim gold, while a mark of 49.52m (974 points) gave Iasynovyi the bronze medal based on the multi-classification point system. Sebastian Baldassarri (Argentina) took silver with 40.43m (988 points).
Athens silver medalist Vladimir Andryuschenko of Russia had to settle for fourth place, despite his best throw of 49.49m, which only gave him 974 points.
(BOCOG September 13, 2008)