Aussies win silver medal in disqualification drama at Paralympics

There was high drama at the Paralympics on Sunday night when Australia was promoted to the silver medal after USA was disqualified in the 34 points 4x100m freestyle relay.

Australia's team of Ellie Cole, Isabella Vincent, Emily Beecroft and Ashleigh McConnell originally had the bronze medal, but ended up with silver medal after the Americans were disqualified for their start.

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The US team touched the wall first by a long margin ahead of Italy and Australia, however the Italians were promoted to gold when the Americans were DQ'd moments after the race.

US team officials lodged an appeal, however the protest was dismissed.

The medal ceremony had to be delayed until Monday because of the protest.

Aussie star Cole summed up the dramatic scenes with her look of absolute shock after finding out about the disqualification.

The Italian swimmers celebrated wildly after realising they'd won gold, while the Americans looked absolutely distraught.

"Oh wow, we have just heard that USA have been disqualified," one commentator said on Channel 7.

"There are looks of shock, horror and disappointment from some of the teams."

Great Britain were also disqualified, while Canada was promoted to the bronze medal position as a result.

Fans also expressed their disbelief over the dramatic scenes on social media.

Madison de Rozario ends silver streak with gold medal

Elsewhere on Sunday night, Madison de Rozario won Australia's first track and field gold at the Tokyo Games and ended her long quest for a Paralympic title when she dominated the final of the T53 800m.

Australia is eighth on the medal tally after day five with eight gold, 15 silver and 13 bronze.

Last year, de Rozario was among several top sportswomen to have a Barbie doll modelled on them.

Asked if hers could be released again with a gold medal, de Rozario replied: "I wouldn't say no to that.

"It's one of the highest compliments I've ever been paid.

"I feel like you have a list of things you want to do in your life and being a Barbie doll isn't even on the list it's that absurd."

The four-time Paralympian had won three silver medals and was fifth two days ago in the T54 5000m.

This time, the 27-year-old executed a perfect race and clocked one minute 45.99 seconds, breaking the Paralympic record.

Also on Sunday night at the track, sprinter Isis Holt won her second Tokyo silver in the T35 200m, with Zhou Xia of China breaking her own world record for the gold.

Zhou clocked 27.17 seconds and Holt set an area record of 27.94.

Top seeds Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson will defend their quad doubles Paralympic title after beating Japan's Mitsuteru Moroishi and and Koji Sugeno 6-2 6-4 in their semi-final.

At the pool, Jake Michel had a near-perfect Games debut when he was narrowly beaten in the final of the SB14 100m breaststroke.

Sam Von Einem won his second straight Games table tennis silver medal, losing 3-2 to World No.1 Hungarian Peter Palos in the Class 11 gold medal match.

But the Steelers' campaign for a third-straight Paralympics gold medal ended in disaster with a 60-52 torching from Japan in their bronze medal game.

with AAP

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