RIO DE JANEIRO: Trinidad and Tobago's Akeem Stewart wrote his name into the record books again yesterday, breaking his own javelin world record twice to clinch gold in the F43 javelin event at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Stewart landed the spear 57.23 metres at the Olympic Stadium with his very first throw to better his previous best of 54.77m in last year's International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Akeem throws the javelin in his second attempt. His first attempt was a WR throw of 57.23m
Before the Rio Games, Stewart had set his sights on re-writing the record books and did not have to wait long to do so. His closest challenger yesterday was Alister McQueen of Canada, who mustered a 55.56m effort in the fifth round to take second spot. New Zealand's Rory McSweeney clinched the bronze medal with a 54.99m throw to send India's Sandeep down to fourth place with a best effort of 54.30m.
Akeem Stewart topped his previous throw of 57.23m to a World Record of 57.32m
Stewart took advantage of his opportunity in Rio, utilising all of his throws and breaking his record for a second time on the night, throwing the spear 57.32m to ensure his place at the top of podium.
Earlier yesterday, T&T's Shantol Ince was also in action but failed to advance out of the heats in the Women's 400m S9 freestyle event.
Her time of 5:31.06 seconds in heat one was good enough for 17th on the overall qualification standing. Ince will be back in the pool on Monday for the Women's 100 meter S9 Freestyle.
Shanntol Ince did not advance but see her full race here
Stewart will return to the field on Friday for the discus, an event for which he also holds the world record, having produced a best of 63.03m in Men's F43 classification en-route to gold at last year's Para Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.
Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee president Brian Lewis was the first to congratulate the 24-year-old Stewart yesterday, saying it was a great moment for the two-island republic.
“It was a tremendous moment for Akeem Stewart, for his family, for Wade Franklyn his coach, for Trinidad and Tobago and in particular the community, Tobago, the Tobago House of Assembly and the Trinidad and Tobago Paralympic Committee,” Lewis told the Express.
Akeem collects his gold medal
“It is really a tremendous achievement by Akeem in the modern era of the Paralympic movement. The T&T flag will fly high and the anthem will be played at the Rio 2016 Games,” Lewis added. “So well done to Akeem, who broke a world record in his first throw, then broke it again last throw. Just a great moment for Trinidad and Tobago.”