Paralympics entertain bigger-than-expected crowds in Rio

Eventual Silver medallist Egypt’s Fatma Omar had tried to toe the line of the Nigerian, but had to settle for 2nd place with her lift of 140kg.

Paralympics Ukrainian team has won 12 medals on the fourth day of competitions in Rio: 6 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze medals, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine wrote on its official Facebook page.

New Zealand has 31 athletes at the Games, and hopes to retain the title of top medals per capita, achieved in London four years ago.

But perhaps more significantly, the achievements of Nigeria’s Paralympians have cast those of their able-bodied counterparts into the shadows. Team Nigeria’s captain at the Games, Lucy Ejike, won gold in the 61kg women’s category on Sunday by setting a new world record, lifting 142kg.

With a population of 4.53 million, New Zealand have won 1.99 medals per million people, just ahead of Slovenia at 1.93, Statistics New Zealand figures show.

Lauritta Onye of Nigeria poses after breaking the world record in the Women’s Shot Put at the Rio 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 11.

Liam Malone also added to New Zealand’s medal tally with silver in the men’s 100m sprint, with fellow Kiwi Rory McSweeney taking out bronze in the javelin.

After Iannotta won gold Saturday, he said his immediate focus was on the 400-meter.