An athlete coached by Brighton University has become Britain’s most successful female Paralympian.
Dame Sarah Storey, who has been coached by a Brighton University lecturer for 12 years, won her 12th gold medal on the opening day in Rio.
The 38-year-old para-cyclist caught fellow Briton Crystal Lane, who took silver, after 1,375 metres of the C5 3,000m individual pursuit final.
Gary Brickley, the senior lecturer and exercise physiologist who has been coaching Dame Sarah since 2004, was in the arena to watch her win gold.
Dr Brickley said: “It was another brilliant performance by Sarah. I knew she was in great shape.
“Breaking the world record in the morning heats proved how well she had prepared and trained for the Paralympics.
“In the final it appeared to be a relatively easy win but that is only a product of hard work in training.
“It was a real pleasure to be track side with Sarah’s family to share her historic moment of her 12th Paralympic gold medal.
“It’s been a real pleasure working with Sarah.”
