Nelson runner Liam Malone has won his second gold medal at the Rio Paralympics.
Liam Malone crosses the line for his second gold medal of the Rio Paralympics. Photo: Photosport
Malone convincingly won the men's 400 metres T44 and set a Paralympic record of 46.20 seconds.
Malone - known as New Zealand's blade-runner - showed his true power moving through the race and was just too strong to cross the line just ahead of David Behre of Germany and Hunter Woodhall of the USA.
This gold medal today takes Malone's medal haul to two gold and one silver at his first ever Paralympic Games.
The 22-year-old student also won gold in the Men's 200m T44 and silver in the Men's 100m T44.
Malone got his first set of blades following the support of the New Zealand public, who donated to a crowd funding site to the tune of $20,000.
Malone's medal today now means the New Zealand Paralympic Team have officially meet the total medal target of 18 in Rio - nine gold, five silver and four bronze.
Liam Malone wins 400m at Rio Paralympics. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Malone said it was a tough race, he went out fast and then tried to relax through the next 200m before then putting the gas on in the home straight.
With three medals from Rio, including two gold, Malone said he believed he could do it and now he had.
He said he was not sure what the future held and he would plot that with his team as there were a lot of things he wanted to do in this life.
Meanwhile the Wellington swimmer Mary Fisher has finished fourth in the 100 metre freestyle S11 final.
Fisher was second at the turn, but was then overtaken over the last 50 metres.
She won silver in the S11 100 freestyle 4 years ago in London.
Fisher won gold in the 100 backstroke earlier in the games.
