If Great Britain and Australia arrived at the 2008 Paralympic Track Cycling competition aiming to rewrite the record books and make history they could not have gotten off to a better start.

Both teams notched up three world records on the first day of the competition, the British just edging out the Australians in the gold medal tally 3-2.

Racing on what the event organizers claim is one of the fastest cycling tracks in the world, the two teams set out to beat all opposition by smashing record after record.

Britain's Darren Kenny set the pace carving a full six seconds off his own world record in the Individual Pursuit (CP3) heats and then going on to out-class his opponent Jin Yong-sik from the Republic of Korea in the final, overtaking him just one kilometer into the 3km event and winning the title outright without having to go the full distance.

After that, record after record tumbled. The first to Italy's Paulo Vigano in the 1km Time Trial LC3-4 event when he notched a new world best in the heats, then to Australia's Kieran Modra in the Individual Pursuit (B&VI 1-3) heats. Modra followed that up by clipping a further 0.8 seconds off the time and striking gold in the final.

Determined not to be left out, Britain's Simon Richardson duly smashed the Men's 1km Time Trial (LC3) world record. Australia hit back with an LC4 class world record by Greg Ball in a time which led Ball to the overall event bronze medal.

It was Britain's Aileen McGlynn who finally won the day for the British. The Athens gold medalist stormed to victory in the Women's 1km Time Trial (B&VI 1-3) going under 1 minute 10 seconds for the first time ever and ensuring the Paralympic crown remains firmly in her possession.

(BOCOG September 7, 2008)