12 Sep 2008

New Zealand pick up a gold and bronze in Beijing

6:02 am on 12 September 2008

The New Zealand paralympics team has moved up to 19th on the medals table in Beijing after picking up 2 medals, a gold and bronze, on Day 5.

Swimmer Sophie Pascoe picked up her second title, blitzing the field to win the 200m individual medley in 2:35.21.

Pascoe who was over four seconds ahead of the silver medallist, now has two gold and a silver medal.

Michael Johnson won bronze in the 10 metre Standing Rifle after a shoot off for third place.

Meanwhile, team captain Tim Prendergast was stretchered off in the 5000 metres semifinals.

Prendergast who won his heat earlier this week stumbled with about 40 metres to go, but he managed to haul himself up to finish the race where he was taken from the arena by stretcher.

A team spokesman says he's likely to recover to run the 15-hundred metres final this weekend.

Meanwhile, South African swimmer Nathalie du Toit who competed at the Beijing Olympics picked up her third gold winning the women's 200 metres individual medley, breaking her own record.

New Zealand now have three gold three silver and two bronze. China leads the table with 33 ahead of Great Britain with 27, United States 18 and Australia 11.