Clare man Malone claims 800m bronze

Ireland's Paralympics team was celebrating its first medal at the Athens Games tonight as Clareman Derek Malone produced a fast finish for bronze in the T38 800m final.

The 24-year-old clocked 2:01.76 to smash his own personal best in a race won by South African Malcolm Pringle in the fifth lane, just inside the Irishman.

Pringle hit the halfway point in just under 59 seconds, and went on to beat his own world record in a time of 1:58.87.

Malone found the extra gear in the final 100 to overhaul Russian Valeriy Stepanskoy, who finished fourth in 2:04.43. Abbes Saidi of Tunisia - the youngest man in the race at 17 years old - grabbed silver in 1:59.85.

A delighted Malone, who won silver at last year's European Championships, paid tribute to those who helped him afterwards.

"I'd like to thank my coach John Kiely, and the whole Irish team," said the Whitegate native. "It's been an unbelievable experience so far. And the medal just caps it off.

"My training has been great the last two weeks and my preparation in the team camp in Cyprus and previously in South Africa helped me here definitely," he added.

"I was confident at all times throughout the race, which was very quick. To run a PB was great and to win a medal was fantastic, I am absolutely thrilled."