Paralympic fencing star Bebe Vio in shock defeat

PARIS: Star Italian wheelchair fencer Bebe Vio suffered a shock defeat at the Paralympics on Wednesday but British Paralympic cycling great Sarah Storey won her 18th gold -- then slammed the “appalling” course.

Storey, who is competing in her ninth Paralympics, dominated the C5 time trial in the Paris suburbs ahead of French hope Heidi Gaugain. But Storey, 46, said the 14.1 kilometres course was “appalling” and that she had never raced on a Games course shorter than 22km — and this was the fifth time in a row she had won this race.

“This is the shortest Paralympic time trial we have ever had, and I think it’s a real shame because we don’t get to showcase para-sport in the way we want to,” Storey said. “You’ll have to ask organisers. There’s plenty of time in the day for us to do two laps like the men. Having fought so hard for parity in women’s cycling, to not have it is a real disappointment.

The Briton added: “I really hope that they never do this to the women again because I think it’s been appalling.” Storey, who was born without a functioning left hand, has now won 29 Paralympics medals of all colours since she made her debut at the 1992 Barcelona Games in the sport of swimming aged 14.

US cyclist Oksana Masters, who was born in Ukraine with birth defects believed to be linked to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, including missing thumbs and weight-bearing bones in her legs, claimed the seventh Paralympic gold of her career by winning the H4-5 category.

The 35-year-old, who was adopted by an American family, has previously won medals in rowing and in a range of winter sports including cross-country skiing. Another of the global stars of Paralympism, Beatrice ‘Bebe’ Vio, was expected to easily defend her title in the women’s foil category B.

But the Italian, who uses prosthetic arms after having all four limbs amputated when she contracted meningitis at the age of 11, was beaten 15-9 by Xiao Rong of China in the semi-finals to the Italian’s obvious displeasure.

Vio, 27, then survived a repechage match and will fight for a bronze medal later Wednesday in the ornate surroundings of the Grand Palais South Africa’s Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole became the first athletes from the African continent to win a Paralympic medal in wheelchair tennis. They edged Brazil’s Leandro Pena and Mane Silva 6-2, 6-4, 10-8 in the quad doubles to win bronze.