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Cockroft defends Rio 2016 title with dominant gold

Hannah Cockroft produced a dominant performance in the women’s T34 800m to win an emphatic gold medal on the final day of athletics action in Tokyo.

The 29-year-old, who trains on campus, set a new Paralympic record of one minute 48.99 seconds to defend her Rio 2016 title and add another gold to her Tokyo collection.  

In difficult conditions inside the National Stadium, it proved to be a British one-two with Kare Adenegan taking silver, and American Alexa Halko claiming third.

After today’s success, Cockroft now has seven Paralympic gold medals to her name and post-race she joked to the media:

"I'm absolutely gutted. I was so close to that world record, I couldn't have got closer if I'd tried.

"I'm really happy with gold but I'm obviously a bit frustrated I couldn't quite squeeze under that time.

"I did that time in Switzerland on the fastest track in the world so to come here and replicate it, I've got to be proud."

Cockroft’s gold is Loughborough’s 21st medal of an incredible Paralympic Games. This includes six golds, six silvers, and nine bronze medals.

Loughborough University has launched a new initiative for those looking to support the future of Para sport on campus. By supporting the Para Sport programme, individuals can make a profound impact to a young person’s life. To find out more and how to donate, click HERE.

For more information on Loughborough and its presence at the Paralympic Games, visit the dedicated website HERE

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 21/193

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2021 QS World University Rankings and University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019.

Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 7th in the Guardian University League Table 2021, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020 and 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2022.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

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