John Ashdown

Sep 5, 2024 | theguardian.com | John Ashdown

Ben Sandilands stormed to a Paralympic gold medal and a new world record in the men’s T20 1500m at the Stade de France. The 21-year-old from Kirkcaldy surged home in 3min 45.40sec, beating the previous world record by 0.10sec and finishing more than four seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Portugal’s Sandro Baessa. The USA’s Michael Brannigan, the previous world record holder and Rio Paralympic champion, finished third.

Sep 4, 2024 | theguardian.com | John Ashdown

Zoe Newson had experienced the joy of bronze medals in London and Rio, then the pain of a fourth-placed finish in Tokyo, but on Wednesday in Paris the 32-year-old went one step further on the podium, winning silver in dramatic circumstances at La Chapelle Arena. On the first day of the powerlifting competition Newson attempted the final 109kg lift she needed for second spot but was initially adjudged to have fouled. She and her team appealed and, after a tense pause, the silver medal was hers.

Sep 2, 2024 | theguardian.com | John Ashdown

Dan Bethell came within one point of a Paralympic badminton gold but eventually had to settle for silver – just as he did at the Tokyo Games – after the narrowest of defeats to India’s Kumar Nitesh in the final of the SL3 men’s singles. Bethell, the No 2 seed, lost the first set 21-14 to the top-ranked Nitesh but battled back to take the second 21-18 and set up a decider.

Aug 31, 2024 | theguardian.com | John Ashdown

ParalympicsGB swimmers enjoyed a Super Saturday in Paris, collecting five medals – including three golds – in a 40-minute flurry at La Défense Arena, and breaking two world records in the process. The deluge helped solidify Great Britain’s spot in second place in the medal table – China having disappeared over the horizon at the top – on a day in which joy in the pool was matched by heartbreak at the velodrome, where a late crash denied Archie Atkinson a seemingly certain gold.

May 19, 2024 | theguardian.com | John Ashdown

The Premier LeagueIt’s not been a great year for Brand Premier League, the supposed best league in the world, where just about everyone is perpetually angry or miserable. Who’s happy? Manchester City, of course. Villa, sure. But elsewhere? Liverpool rage about kick-off times. Wolves are furious about VAR. Forest are mad about that too but also about their PSR-induced points deduction. Everton see your points deduction and raise you a takeover saga that has rumbled on without resolution.