Kiwi paralympians eye third medals

Gold and bronze added to NZ's haul

New Zealand cyclist Paula Tesoriero and swimmer Sophie Pascoe are both eyeing a third Paralympics medal after each won second medals at Beijing yesterday.

Tesoriero, who had crashed after winning the time trial a few days ago, won the individual pursuit bronze medal yesterday.

"I've got one more race in Beijing, the road time trial, which I'll give my best," said Tesoriero who thanked everyone who had been supporting her. It had been a big lift for her.

"My inbox is absolutely flooded with emails that I still haven't cleared from Monday.

"I've got an incredibly good support team which has helped me get this far. The support from home is also just incredible.

"A big thank you to everyone back in New Zealand."

Pascoe, the youngest New Zealand competitor at 15, also won her second medal – a 100m breststroke gold after leaving everyone in her wake.

She lines up today for the 200m individual medley.

New Zealand now have a total of five medals – two golds, two silver and one bronze after four days of competition.

Tesoriero, 33, beat Australian Jayne Paris in the bronze race by nearly 20 seconds.

Tesoriero who won a gold in the time trial earlier in the competition but crashed on her celebration lap completed her pursuit race in a time of four minutes, 26.080 seconds.

"I'm really, really rapt with that. Two medals at this level is just awesome," said Tesoriero who had clocked a personal best of 4min 22.86sec in qualifying.

Pascoe won a silver in the 100m butterfly earlier in the week but yesterday's medal was more special as she dedicated it to her grandfather.

"My grandfather passed away four years ago and I said to him `I will go to Beijing (2008 Paralympic Games) and win a gold medal for you'.

"I gave it my best and I got him the gold. We spent much time together and I loved him so much, said the Lincoln High School student who lost a lower leg in a lawn mower accident when she was aged two.

In other swimming events, Cameron Leslie was sixth in the 50m butterfly.

In athletics, Jessica Hamill finished seventh with a New Zealand record of 19.27m in the discus and team captain Tim Prendergast won his 1500m heat in a time of 4min 13.54sec.

New Zealand athletes in action today include Prendergast in the 5000m final, Michael Johnson in the 10m air rifle standing and the boccia team.

-NZPA