(L-R) Spain’s Marta Frances Gomez with her silver medal, Great Britain’s Megan Richter with her gold medal, and Great Britain’s Hannah Moore with her bronze medal following the Women’s PTS4 event. Image provided by PA / Alamy.

In the Men’s PTVI event, University-based Dave Ellis and guide Luke Pollard finished more than a minute ahead of their closest rivals to take a stunning gold on the banks of the Seine.

Ellis clocked a rapid 58.41 minutes as France duo Thibaut Rigaudeau and Antoine Perel claimed silver and bronze respectively.

Elsewhere, Tokyo 2020 medallist Claire Cashmore won silver in the Women’s PTS5 event following a thrilling race. Cashmore, who also trains out of the University, crossed the line in 1:05:55.

The USA’s Grace Norman won gold (1:04:40) with fellow GB athlete Lauren Steadman winning bronze (1:06:45).

There was also medal joy for Loughborough University alumna Hannah Moore after she won bronze in the Women’s PTS4 category in 1:16:01.

It proved to be a remarkable podium place for the 27-year-old who only returned to the sport in 2023 after a two-year hiatus.

Great Britain’s Megan Richter won gold (1:14:30) and Spain’s Marta Frances Gomez secured silver in 1:15:10.

The triumphant athletes all spoke to Channel 4 following their competitions:

Dave Ellis: “It’s absolutely unreal. Tokyo was the complete opposite but so happy I had an awesome race today.

“You only get a couple of chances in your career to do a Paralympics – you get a lot more nervous and have to do it on the day, so it is so special to pull it off.

“It will take a while to sink in. I was thinking back to Tokyo yesterday – this is a much happier feeling.”

Luke Pollard: “It’s been a long journey, obviously highs and lows. I think Dave’s work ethic – I’ve never met an athlete like him. To put on a show like we have today, it’s all worth it.”

Claire Cashmore: “I’m feeling pretty good. Quite emotional today to see my parents and hearing that Dave (Ellis, her partner) also won. I’m really happy.

“I felt a lot of pressure in coming in this time. It means so much, that relief when you cross that finish line.”

Hannah Moore: “I honestly can’t believe it. It’s been such a wild hard journey – seven years of hard work to get here.

“With my classification not being in Tokyo and three or four years out of the sport with injury, illness and mental health, I just don’t know what to say.

“The crowds are nothing I have ever experienced before. It spurred me on. I’ve had a tough week here and was unsure about how today would go so to have won a medal means the world to me.”

All 11 Paralympic Games triathlon disciplines took place on Monday, after being postponed by 24 hours due to water quality concerns in the River Seine.

Loughborough’s 2024 Paralympic medal count now stands at eight – four gold, two silver, two bronze.

For all the latest Loughborough news around major global sporting events, visit the University’s dedicated website here: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/athletes-global-stage/

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Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 24/147