Glory Storey as Sarah claims first gold for Team GB

CYCLING queen Sarah Storey got the Paralympics off to a glorious start yesterday by winning Britain’s first gold medal.

Sarah, 34 — who was roared on by a delirious capacity crowd of 6,000 — punched the air in delight as she stormed to victory in the 3km C5 individual pursuit.

The pedal ace — who was born without a left hand — was so quick she PASSED Polish rival Anna Harkowska barely halfway through the race.

Glory Storey ... Sarah Storey claims first gold of the Games for Team GB

Sarah — who had earlier broken the world record in qualifying in front of a thrilled Wills and Kate — said: “This is a dream come true. I can’t believe that I’ve been so lucky to win in my home town with my home crowd.

“I felt that my family had been extended by 6,000 with all the noise.

“I suppose the win did look easy but mentally you have to prepare and make it happen. And the crowd gives you so much energy.”

Sarah triumphed on a spectacular first day for Paralympics GB who picked up a total of SEVEN medals.

Delight ... Sarah and silver medallist Anna

Lord Coe and Prince Edward were in the crowd who saw the cyclist pick up the EIGHTH gold medal of her career.

Incredibly, five of them have come in SWIMMING — as Sarah first became a champ in the pool as a 14-year-old in the 1992 Barcelona Games.

She turned to cycling in 2005 after an ear infection ended her swimming career.

Despite calling herself the “grandma” of the GB cycling team, she now plans to take on able-bodied riders at Rio 2016.

The superfast cyclist is even rumoured to have beaten six-times Olympic champ Sir Chris Hoy during training.

Winner ... the victory is Sarah's eighth gold medal

Sarah, now based in Manchester, said she hoped the achievements of the Paralympians would inspire people all over the world to take up sport.

She is aiming for three more golds at 2012 and added: “The first one’s always the hardest to get out of the way.”

Earlier, fellow cyclist Mark Lee Colbourne got Paralympics GB’s first medal of the Games when he won silver in the men’s C1 1km time trial.

The 42-year-old — who broke his back in a paragliding accident three years ago and risks his life every time he rides — dedicated his victory to his dad Cecil, who died of cancer in February.

Silver star ... Mark Colbourne claimed Britain's first medal

Mark, of Tredegar, South Wales, said: “I am very proud.”

Visually-impaired Ben Quilter, 30, of Brighton, later took home a bronze in the men’s 60kg judo.

- MORE than 11 million people tuned in to Channel 4 to watch Wednesday’s spectacular Paralympics opening ceremony, figures revealed yesterday.

e.nash@the-sun.co.uk

Ready steady Zoe as star lifts bronze

POWERLIFTER Zoe Newson snatched bronze for Britain yesterday.

The 20-year-old, of Ipswich — who has dwarfism — hauled 88kg, more than twice her body weight, in the women’s -40kg class.

Winner Nazmiye Muslu of Turkey took gold with 106kg.

Fair play

EVERY Paralympic sport has a different classification system to take account of disabilities in each competition.

It helps to define which athletes are eligible for each of the sports — and ensures a level playing field.

Competitors are evaluated by “classifiers” and assigned a sport class.

Results are determined by a points system known as Raza. A maths formula means the athlete with the least impairment does not get an unfair advantage.