Paralympics: Anna Grimaldi Wins NZ's First Gold!

Anna Grimaldi just won New Zealand's first gold of the Rio Paralympics with victory in the women's Long Jump T47.

Grimaldi put in a mammoth final jump of 5.62m, 3cm ahead of Yunidis Castillo (Cuba) and Carlee Beattie (Australia).

Grimaldi's previous best jump was 5.41m, putting today's jump a massive 21cm ahead of her personal best.

She went into this event ranked number two in the world.

The last medal New Zealand won in Paralympic field events for females was a bronze in the Long Jump B3 from Leslie Mancktelow, 1988.

It's been a long dry spell for New Zealand in Para-Athletics at a Paralympic Games, with the last medals won in 2004 - two golds and a bronze, Peter Martin at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

New Zealand have three more chances to win a medal later today in the pool. Cameron Leslie will compete in the final of the Men's 200m Freestyle S5 while both Rebecca Dubber and Nikita Howarth will feature in the Women's 100m Backstroke S7 final.

- NZ Herald