London 2012 Olympics: Sophie Christiansen wins third gold medal ... - Daily Mail

By Sportsmail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 17:59 GMT, 4 September 2012 | UPDATED: 17:59 GMT, 4 September 2012

Sophie Christiansen became Britain’s first triple gold medallist of the London 2012 Paralympics at Greenwich Park.

The 24-year-old, from Maidenhead in Berkshire, also secured a British Paralympic record 11 medals in one Games for Great Britain’s equestrian team.

Christiansen, riding Janeiro 6, added Grade Ia freestyle gold to a team gold medal and individual championship title.

Golden girl: Sophie Christiansen on Janeiro 6 celebrates her latest dressage triumph at Greenwich Park

She rode three times during the six-day competition, and on each occasion scored more than 80 per cent.

Her patriotic musical freestyle routine included excerpts from Land of Hope and Glory and also featured Big Ben’s chimes plus a quotation from Shakespeare’s Richard II, providing a fitting conclusion to the para-dressage programme.

Britain finished with 10 individual medals - four gold, five silver and a bronze - plus a fifth successive Paralympic team title.

Flying the flag: British fans cheer on Christiansen as the home rider stormed to gold

But Christiansen, who has cerebral palsy, was the star performer in her third Paralympics, winning with a mammoth score of 84.750 per cent.

She won a bronze medal as a 16-year-old in Athens eight years ago, then captured two golds and a silver in Beijing. She is also a reigning world and European champion.

In addition to her brilliant riding skills, Christiansen has a masters degree in mathematics from Royal Holloway University and currently works part-time as a statistician.

She received an MBE in the 2009 New Year’s Honours List for services to disabled sport.

Olympics diving: Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow miss out on medal

By Nick Hope BBC Sport at the Aquatics Centre European Champions Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow say they have "no regrets" after finishing fifth in the synchronised diving 10m platform final.

The British pair were in second place after the opening two rounds, but small mistakes cost them an Olympic podium finish.

Chinese pair Chen Ruolin and Hao Wang collected gold, Mexico took silver and Canada the bronze.

Leon Taylor BBC diving commentator

"The British girls were very consistent, but you cannot take anything away from the three podium finishers. It was sensational diving from the women on the platform. The bar is continually being lifted and there are some new players in town.

"But it does also prove that the Chinese are not infallible. They are human after all and will be feeling the occasion. But they don't need to be their best to win the gold. They can dive at 85% capacity and still be good enough to thump the rest of the field."

"I think we both had a great experience," said Couch.

"Our first two dives were just brilliant and, although our options weren't as good as normal, we did score a lot higher than at Europeans, so it is a great performance. We don't have any regrets."

Barrow admitted she was disappointed they could not capitalise on their strong start, but praised the home crowd for the boost their support gave them in the final routine.

"It was so loud and even better than the World Cup [Olympic test event in February, where the pair claimed bronze]," she said. "I think we were definitely encouraged by it."

Couch, who finished eighth alongside Stacie Powell at the Beijing Games, believes better is to come from her partnership with Barrow.

"We've only been diving as a pair for about two and a half years, whereas the Canadians have been diving since 2005," added Couch. "Sarah and I have a lot more to give and I'm excited. Bring on the next one."