Sarah Storey completes a Paralympic gold hat trick as she storms to cycling time-trial title

• The 34-year-old now has a total of ten Paralympic golds to her name
• Medal haul could match Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson's 11 Paralympic golds if she wins Thursday's road race
• Storey completed the 16 kilometre race in 22 minutes and 40 seconds
• Her speed would have seen her gain 8th place in the men's time trial

Cycling champion Sarah Storey has secured a hat trick of gold medals today after riding to victory in the women's C5 time-trial at Brands Hatch.
The 34-year-old from Manchester has already won two Paralympic titles in the velodrome before adding another gold from the 16-kilometre race against the clock today.
Storey finished the course, which included all the fabled sections of the motor-racing circuit, in 22 minutes 40 seconds.

Golden couple: Sarah Storey in the arms of her husband Barney,whom she credits for her transformation from swimmer to cyclist

Sealed with a kiss: Storey kisses her husband Barney after storming to victory at Brands Hatch

Moment of glory: Sarah Storey has now won three gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympics

She said: 'I'm absolutely delighted. It's just amazing to get around the circuit so quick. 'The first thing I'm going to do is see where I would have placed in the men's race.'

She would have been eighth at that split. Crystal Lane was ninth in 27:33.
This latest win takes her total tally of Paralympic golds to 10 - and she may even be in with a chance of boosting her medal haul later this week.
Storey will ride in the road race on Thursday seeking to level Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson's 11 Paralympic golds.

Crowd cheer: Sarah's win made the crown go wild at Brands Hatch, Kent today

Life is golden: Sarah holds up her medal and shows off her Union Flag nailpolish

Sarah Storey looks slightly in awe as she revels in the moment holding her golden medal

Speaking about the possibility of her matching Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson's medal haul after her velodrome wins, she said: 'It is fantastic, a great feeling. I didn't expect to be able to catch her as quickly.
'I suppose it did look easy but mentally you have to prepare and make it happen. I have to respect all my competitors.'
She said of her latest success: ‘To compete in a home Games like this with all the crowds is a dream come true and I feel honoured to have been here.’

Flying the flag: Sarah and husband Barney hold the Union Flag high after her win today

Going for gold: Storey will seek to level Tanni Grey-Thompson's medal haul

Twenty years ago, as a shy and nervous teenager, Sarah Bailey as she was then known, took part in her first Paralympics in Barcelona as a swimmer. She returned home two weeks later with six medals, including two golds.
She won a total of five gold, eight silver and three bronze Paralympic medals at swimming.
She only turned to cycling in 2005 after an ear infection ended her swimming career.
After changing sports, Sarah met Barney Storey through cycling in 2004 and the couple married three years later.
She credits her husband with playing a major role in her transformation from swimmer to cyclist.

Riding to victory: Sarah Story racing round the track at Brands Hatch motor racing circuit near London

On route: Storey completed the route in 22 minutes and 40 seconds - which would have seen her gain eight place in the men's race

Done it: Sarah Storey celebrates winning the women's time trial at Brand's hatch

She said: ‘His expertise in cycling is just phenomenal.
‘Before he was a tandem pilot he was an able-bodied solo cycling sprinter, riding World Cup events, spring grand prix in Europe.
‘Barney’s got an immense knowledge and background in cycling. And when I came along, this big-shouldered raw swimmer, he just taught me everything I know.’

Medal number 20: Storey has now won 21 Paralympic medals across six Games and in two different sports

Golden couple: Sarah and Barney Storey share a kiss and show off the medals they have won at the velodrome

What's the Storey! Sarah Storey celebrates victory in the women's individual time trial

Following two golds in 2008, including in the time-trial, Storey now has a hat-trick on home soil in her sixth Games.
Meanwhile, Great Britain's Mark Colbourne had to settle for silver in the men's C1 time-trial.
Colbourne, who won individual pursuit gold in the velodrome, clocked 25mins 29secs on the 16km course, but Michael Teuber of Germany pipped him to victory, finishing first in 25:16.
It was the 42-year-old Welshman's third medal of his first Games after breaking his back in a paragliding accident three years ago.
'I gave it everything, I'm happy with my silver,' Colbourne said. 'I'm very proud of what I've done today.'

Poster girl cyclist Sarah Storey won gold in the C5 individual pursuit

Storey clocked three minutes 32.170 seconds to advance to the gold medal ride-off in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge