Roberts claims 10th gold (From Haringey Independent)

Roberts claims 10th gold

4:29pm Thursday 11th September 2008 in

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Swimmer David Roberts claimed his 10th Paralympic gold medal with victory in the men's S7 400metres freestyle at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing.

Roberts' third victory of his third Games came minutes after Britain had won the first two Paralympic rowing finals through Helene Raynsford and Tom Aggar, while shooter Matt Skelhon won gold earlier in the day.

The 28-year-old from Pontypridd, who has cerebral palsy, clocked four minutes 52.35 seconds to take Britain's gold medal haul to 25 on the fifth day of the 11-day Games.

Roberts led from start to finish to break the Paralympic record - set eight years ago in Sydney by New Zealand's Dean Booth - by 1.4secs.

American Lantz Lamback was second, 4.11secs behind Roberts, and Australia's Jay Dohnt was third.

"It was a race I was always in control of - I knew after 50 (metres) I'd won," said Roberts.

"It's kind of a surreal feeling in a Paralympic final to know with seven lengths to go nobody was coming past me."