Hannah Cockroft Secures Fourth Consecutive T34 100m Title as Britain's Para-Athletes Shine in Paris

Hannah Cockroft delivered yet another dazzling performance, clinching her fourth consecutive T34 100m Paralympic title and her eighth overall gold medal, as Great Britain's Para-athletes made a golden start at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Competing at the iconic Stade de France, Cockroft clocked an impressive 16.80 seconds, comfortably outpacing her teammate Kare Adenegan, who finished second in 17.99 seconds.

The victory solidifies Cockroft's dominance in the 100m event, a reign that began with her international debut in 2011. Her streak of success includes golds in London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020, and she entered Paris as the world record holder and this year’s fastest competitor. Racing in front of a lively crowd, after the quietude of Tokyo, Cockroft reveled in the atmosphere, her trademark smile beaming as she crossed the finish line.

"I knew Paris could do it, and I’m so glad they did," Cockroft said, thrilled by the vocal support from the stands. "That noise is what we do it for, the support is amazing. I can’t wipe the smile from my face. For 12 years, that’s what we’ve worked for."

Reflecting on the pressures of being the favorite, Cockroft added, "I’m making my life well hard doing this. You know you are the one people are watching but that’s what keeps you going—you don’t want to let people down, and I know I have more in me. My time wasn’t amazing, but it doesn’t matter."

Cockroft's remarkable achievements now place her just three gold medals behind the legendary Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson's eleven, with an opportunity to narrow the gap further in Saturday's T34 800m final, where she is also the defending champion.

The day also saw another British star rise, as shot putter Sabrina Fortune claimed her first Paralympic gold medal. Competing in the F20 event for athletes with intellectual impairments, Fortune set a new world record with a phenomenal first-round throw of 15.12m. Having previously won bronze in Rio and finishing fifth in Tokyo, this triumph marks a significant milestone in her career.

In addition to the golds, Team GB secured a silver medal through wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn, who finished second in the T53 400m behind Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner. Meanwhile, sprint star Jonnie Peacock advanced safely to the T64 100m final, set for Monday, after finishing third in his heat.

With a strong start in Paris, Britain’s Para-athletes have set the stage for what promises to be a memorable Games, with more medals likely on the horizon as the competition unfolds.