In the final event of the Rio 2016 para archery competition, Great Britain took the first Paralympic W1 mixed team title. The gold was the nation’s sixth of the Games and lifted them to the top of the Paralympic medal table.
Top-seeded duo Jo Frith and John Walker edged out the Korean pairing of Kim Ok Geum and Koo Dong Sub in the final, 133-129.
“It shows that we are the best in the world, particularly in the W1 category,” Frith said. “We're streets ahead of everyone else. The hard work we put in, week in week out, with the funding, we’re able to practice our mixed team, and that’s why we’re so slick, so comfortable.”
The Czech Republic’s David Drahoninsky and Sarka Musilova took bronze against the United States.
“Today I finished my Paralympic medal collection,” Drahoninsky said, who previously won individual gold at the Bejing 2008 Games, plus silvers in both London and Rio.
“I think Team GB was very good and very strong,” Drahoninsky said. “I wish them good luck and success in the next competition.”
Frith and Walker both made their Paralympic debuts in Rio.
“We've shot together for a long time,” Firth said. “We've got the three titles. We're very comfortable with each other in the way that we shoot, the timing of our shots. We complement each other. So to come out here and win a medal is just the icing on the cake.”
Frith and Walker led the most successful para archery team in Great Britain history.
Walker won gold in the W1 individual competition. Frith took silver to teammate Jessica Stretton, and Vicky Jenkins won bronze. John Stubbs and Jodie Grinham took a silver medal in the compound open mixed team competition.
“This means the absolute world to me,” Walker said. “It was my goal to be the world’s number one. With these two golds here, I have achieved that dream.”
Walker hopes the teams success can lead to the sports growth and a potential para archery world cup in Great Britain.
“We've got countries to host the events, para archery is growing year on year. Watch this space,” Walker said.
The para archery competition at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games ran 10-17 September in the Sambodromo.
