Archer Brown is in the gold

Paul Carter

British archer Danielle Brown arrowed her way into the history books by becoming the first disabled competitor to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

The 22-year-old wheelchair-user from Lothersdale in Yorkshire, took gold for Team England in the women’s team compound archery alongside fellow archers Nichola Simpson and Nicky Hunt.

The title was clinched in impressive style, as the trio overcame rivals Canada 232-229, just one point outside the world record for the event.

Brown, who competes by transferring from her wheelchair to shoot from a specially designed stool, took archery gold at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008.

“I don’t rank one achievement higher than the other,” she said.

“The Paralympics was amazing and it was my first big competition. But winning here against able-bodied competitors is equally awesome.”

Teammate Nicky Hunt said: “Danielle earned her place on our team by a mile and she shot really well.

“We are very proud of what she has achieved.”

Compound archery is not included in the programme of Olympic sports, which uses recurve bows, so Brown will only be able to compete in the Paralympics in London 2012.

Phil Lane, Chief Executive of Paralympics GB said: “We send Danielle, and her teammates, our congratulations on such a fantastic performance and winning gold for Team England.

“Dani’s achievement highlights the incredibly high standard at which Paralympic athletes train and compete, and we are absolutely delighted for her.

“We would like to wish both her and fellow Paralympian and Team England cyclist Sarah Storey the best of luck in the rest of their competitions in able-bodied events in Delhi.”

Storey, 33, was competing in the women’s 3000m individual pursuit at the Indira Ghandi Sports Complex, but her Games were not to end with a medal.

The multiple Paralympic medallist in both swimming and cycling finished sixth in her heat in a time of 3:39.964, missing out on the top four place required to qualify.

“In the last kilometre I just tried to make sure I emptied the tank,” she said.

“When you’ve done the best you can do...I personally couldn’t have gone any faster today. If I’d got in the bronze medal ride I would have finished fourth, but I’m sixth. It keeps me ranked in the top ten in the world.”