Rio Paralympians close to 50th gold medal

Great Britain has bagged almost 50 gold medals after winning five more on day eight of the Rio Paralympics on Thursday, September 15.

Should they achieve the gob-smacking total it will be the first time since 1988 that the team has won half a century of golds.

Sophie Christiansen and Natasha Baker both defended their titles in the dressage, while former swimmer Jeanette Chippington picked up one of three golds in the canoeing as she won the women’s K1 final, while teammates Emma Wiggs (KL2) and Anne Dickins (KL3) also emerged victorious.

Britain are now just 13 medals short of their London 2012 total having won 107 medals overall.

They are assured of reaching their target of 50 gold medals on Friday, since the men’s tennis singles final will be an all-British affair between Wimbledon champion Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett, while the dressage mixed team will confirm their title.

Team GB currently lie in second place in the overall medal table, sandwiched between ultra-dominant China with 191 medals and third-placed Ukraine with 92.