Greta Streimikyte knocked a second off her own European record yet was still just outside the medals in a thrilling T13 1500m final at a packed Stade de France.
The UCD AC star threw down the gauntlet to the field in the first lap and was second when they went through the first 400m in 70:35 seconds.
She had to use her tactical nous to extract herself off the kerb when the race packed at the front and she was lying sixth after 1200m.
But Streimikyte moved into fifth place at the bell, and then one last kick saw her overtake Tunisia’s Paralympic record-holder Somaya Bousaid with 250m to go, to take a brilliant fourth place.
It was the second time the 28-year-old finished fourth in a Paralympic final (also in Rio 2016) but it was the first time Ireland’s three-time Paralympian ever beat the Tunisian superstar.
Her time of 4:32.28 was a second faster than the European record (4:33.27) she set at World Championships in Paris last year.
“My plan was, similar to the Worlds in Paris last year, to take on the first lap to make sure it was not going to be too slow because that wouldn’t be beneficial for me,” she explained afterwards.
“But the girl that led the race, she was brilliant and was actually taking it on too. The rest of the field kept coming so I just had to remain focussed and just make sure I just had that bit for the last lap. I just tried to remain as strong as I could so I could finish the last lap as fast as possible.
“This season wasn’t the best I would have wanted so I am happy that I was able to pull something out of the bag,” she added.
“Obviously running a season’s best means I gave everything I could this evening. Fourth place is always a bit painful for me because it feels like I am just stuck in that fourth or fifth place but hopefully not for too long more.”
The race was won, in 4:22.39, by Ethiopia’s reigning champion Tigist Gezahagn, who just held off Morocco’s two-time world champion Fatima Ezzahra El Idrissi (4:22.98) with America’s Liza Corso taking bronze in 4:23.45.
Day 3 Paralympic Games Evening Results (Saturday 31st August):
| Name | Sport | Event | Result |
| Greta Streimikyte | Para Athletics | T13 1500m Final | 4:32.28 – new European record – 4th place |
Day 4 Paralympics Games Full day Schedule (Sunday 1st September) (times subject to change)
| 09.10 | Katie O’Brien & Tiarnán O’Donnell | Para Rowing | PR2 Mixed Double Sculls B Final |
| 10.00 | Martin Gordon & Eoin Mullen | Para Cycling (track) | B 1000m Time Trial |
| 10.00 | Damien Vereker & Mitchell McLaughlin | Para Cycling (track) | B 1000m Time Trial |
| 10.26 | Katie George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal (pilot) | Para Cycling (track) | B 3000m individual Pursuit Qualifier |
| 10.26 | Josephine Healion & Linda Kelly (Pilot) | Para Cycling (track) | B 3000m individual Pursuit Qualifier |
| 11.05 | Chloe MacCombe & Catherine Sands | Para Triathlon | PTVI |
| 11.05 | Judith MacCombe & Eimear Nicholls | Para Triathlon | PTVI |
| 11.40 | Cassie Cava | Para Triathlon | PTS4 |
| 12.51 | Martin Gordon & Eoin Mullen | Para Cycling (track) | B 1000m Final* |
| 12.51 | Damien Vereker & Mitchell McLaughlin | Para Cycling (track) | B 1000m Final* |
| 13.31
13.41 |
Katie George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal (Pilot) | Para Cycling (track) | B 3000m individual Pursuit Final (bronze)* B 3000m individual Pursuit Final (gold)* |
| 13.31
13.41 |
Josephine Healion & Linda Kelly (Pilot) | Para Cycling (track) | B 3000m individual Pursuit Final (bronze)* B 3000m individual Pursuit Final (gold)* |
*pending qualifying results
