Rio Recap: Drahoninsky gains silver and a wife

Omnisports

September 17, 2016 10:54 AM

Day nine of the Paralympic Games was a memorable one for David Drahoninsky, Rebecca Murray and Daniel Dias.

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On a day when Daniel Dias and Ihar Boki triumphed once again in the pool at Rio 2016, it was archer David Drahoninsky who stole the show.

DRAHONINSKY MISSES OUT ON GOLD, BUT GAINS A FIANCEE

World champion Drahoninsky was edged out by John Walker in the men's W1 archery final.

However, the Czech still had very good reason to celebrate after his public proposal to girlfriend Lida Fikarova, in front of the Sambodromo crowd, was accepted.

"I am lucky at least in Rio I could give a surprise for my girlfriend. But people know that women don't like surprises. I have five days of life before I return to the Czech Republic, after that she may kill me," joked Drahoninsky.

"Before this competition I had the ring. After the competition I had the ring and medal. And now, I haven't got the medal or the ring [after giving both to Fikarova]!

"She is the woman I like and she is amazing."

MAGNIFICENT MURRAY INSPIRES US TO WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL GOLD

Rebecca Murray was central to a dominant 62-45 victory for Team USA over Germany in the women's wheelchair basketball final.

Murray contributed 33 points, more than half of her country's total, as the US - champions in 2004 and 2008 - reclaimed the title from the London 2012 winners.

The US men face Spain in the men's final on Sunday.

FAMILIAR SUCCESS STORIES IN THE POOL

Brazil's Dias claimed his third gold of Rio 2016 and 13th Paralympic title in all by winning the men's 50m backstroke S5 final, sparking predictably joyous scenes at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium.

There was also success for two other men who are no strangers to podiums.

Zsolt Vereczkei of Hungary finished third behind Dias and Great Britain's Andrew Mullen, maintaining his remarkable run of claiming a medal in the 50m S5 at every Paralympics since 1992.

Meanwhile, Boki earned his fifth gold - and sixth medal in total - in Rio with victory in the men's 100m freestyle S13. At 22, the Belarussian now boasts 10 Paralympic golds from two appearances at the event.

QUOTES OF THE DAY

"I feel it's positive pressure and a great honour to represent this country with everybody watching on TV," - Dias is revelling in being one of Brazil's star athletes at the Paralympics.

"He's an unbelievable player and an unbelievable legend of tennis, especially in Scotland and Great Britain, so to have my name mentioned alongside him, somebody who has inspired me my whole career, is amazing. I'll always be able to say that I won a gold medal in the same stadium as he did," men's wheelchair tennis champion Gordon Reid hails Andy Murray after emulating his fellow Scot's triumph in Rio.

COMING UP

Saturday marks the penultimate day of action in Rio, with medals up for grabs across nine sports. The swimming programme draws to a close.

Omnisports

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