Aust retain second spot on table

The gold medals came from all directions for Australia on an emotional day three, as the nation surprisingly maintained its grip on second place on the Paralympic medal table.

Sprinter Evan O'Hanlon provided the headline act at the Olympic Stadium by defending his 100m title in a world record time of 10.79 seconds as the nation pushed its medal tally to 11 gold, five silver and 13 bronze medals.

Cyclist Michael Gallagher and swimmer Blake Cochrane continued Australia's success at the velodrome and in the pool while Joann Formosa pulled off a stunning victory at the equestrian.

The performances kept Great Britain at bay but the hosts are poised to overtake Australia in the coming days.

One of Australia's greatest Paralympians Libby Kosmala called it a day after attending her 12th Games, the 70-year-old shooter first turning out at a Paralympics in 1968.

There was heartache for a devastated Grace Bowman at the equestrian, she tearfully pulled out of her final competition after the horse she was riding was spooked for the second straight Games.

Bowman became a paraplegic at the age of 12 after being thrown from a horse and three years later her mother was killed after being crushed by a horse.

O'Hanlon, who suffers from mild cerebral palsy, defended his Beijing title by smashing the opposition with his nearest rival finishing a third of a second behind him.

"For me, it would not have been a win if I did not run a world record in the process," he said.

Cyclist Gallagher came from behind to finish over the top of former British soldier Jon-Allan Butterworth in front of a raucous home crowd in the C5 4000m.

At the pool, Cochrane won his maiden Paralympic title in the SB7 100m breaststroke while Matthew Cowdrey claimed the 18th medal of his Paralympic career.

The South Australian is just one medal behind Kingsley Bugarin's national record and still has another five events to go, including his two pet races.

At Greenwich Park, Formosa caused a boilover by upsetting Britain's nine-time Paralympic gold medallist Lee Pearson in the Grade 1b individual championship.

It was the first time that Pearson has been defeated since the 2000 Sydney Games.

The 51-year-old Formosa, who has spinal cord and nerve damage, was thrilled.

It really hasn't sunk in," he said.

"I know I've done it.

"I came to do what I said I would do."

In terms of inspirational moments, few could match Jayme Paris at the velodrome on Saturday.

A bout of ataxia in her opening lap of the 500m time trial sent her arms into uncontrollable spasm and she bumped into a small bollard and looked certain to hit the woodwork.

She somehow recovered to set a world record in her classification and collect bronze.