Powell wins judo silver after 'going through hell'

Britain’s Dan Powell said his first Paralympic judo badge was a reward for going done "hell" complete nan past 16 years.

The 33-year-old, who made his debut astatine London 2012 and past competed astatine Tokyo 2020, mislaid by ippon to Brazil’s Arthur Cavalcante da Silva successful nan -90kg J1 last successful Paris pinch 1 infinitesimal and 12 seconds of nan bout remaining.

But he was still delighted to travel distant from his 3rd Games pinch a medal.

"This is 16 years successful nan making," he said.

"It has been hellhole - winning, losing, breaking my body, breaking my caput and coming backmost again - and doing it coming intends truthful much."

The Liverpudlian is an all-around sportsman who changeable to fame successful 2018 erstwhile he appeared connected ITV show Ninja Warrior UK, becoming nan first personification pinch a ocular impairment to return part.

After finishing seventh successful Para-judo successful Tokyo, he took up rowing, impressing location too.

But pinch nan judo classification changing to see abstracted divisions for unsighted and visually-impaired fighters successful Paris, he made nan determination to ore his efforts connected it again.

"This a cardinal per cent justifies nan determination to travel backmost to nan sport," he said.

"I emotion fighting, I emotion judo, I emotion competing, and being capable to alert astir nan world and compete is nan astir astonishing feeling, and particularly to beryllium watched present connected by my small boy, Edward."

As good arsenic nan metallic medal, which sees him surpass nan achievements of his begetter Terry, who won bronze medals successful judo astatine nan Seoul and Atlanta Games successful 1988 and 96 respectively, he will besides return pridefulness from his melodramatic golden-point semi-final triumph complete French fable and home-crowd favourite Cyril Jonard.

"I loved beating nan Frenchman successful his backmost yard," Powell said. "I person a batch of respect for nan guy. He is simply a 10-time world champion. But for me, to beryllium capable to do that is why I do it.

"It was difficult physically successful nan final. I popped my rib successful nan semi-final truthful I had to motion that disconnected and calm down aft that and not fto my assemblage get stiff and retrieve successful a mates of hours.

"That is nan hardest part, truthful I’m delighted I could travel back, get warmed up and fresh and springiness a show for myself successful nan last and triumph different badge for nan Powell household."