KIDDERMINSTER Paralympic silver medal winner Claire Cashmore's first thought was not for herself in Paris.

Great Britain pair Cashmore and Tokyo champion Lauren Steadman won silver and bronze respectively in the women’s PTS5 triathlon.

But Cashmore, 36, said long-term boyfriend Dave Ellis was at the forefront of her mind as she claimed second ahead of team-mate Steadman on Pont Alexandre III.

Ellis set aside previous Paralympic frustration and issues with the River Seine water quality to power to triathlon glory before Megan Richter grabbed another gold for GB.

Cashmore, the Tokyo bronze medallist who had previously won eight swimming medals including relay gold in Rio, said: “That is all I was bothered about when I crossed the finish line — please tell me Dave won.

“He is honestly the most determined, hard-working person I have ever met and finally he has got what he deserved, especially after Tokyo.

“I felt so stressed not being able to watch him. I’m absolutely buzzing for him. He deserves everything he gets.”

Triathletes were forced to wait for competition in the French capital after events got postponed by 24 hours due to rain leaving the Seine unsuitable for the 750-metre swim.

Ellis, 38, was determined not to experience Paralympic déjà vu in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, having bounced back from the major setback in Japan by becoming Commonwealth and a six-time world champion.

Visually-impaired Ellis, whose Tokyo 2020 ambitions were derailed by a snapped bike chain, claimed the men’s PTVI3 title in Paris by crossing the line alongside guide Luke Pollard in 58 minutes and 41 seconds ahead of French athletes Thibaut Rigaudeau and Antoine Perel.

Success was then swiftly followed by GB team-mate Richter, the 23-year-old Games debutant, triumphing in the women’s PTS4 event.

Some of Richter’s friends missed witnessing her surprise gold after departing Paris following Sunday’s postponement.

Meanwhile, Redditch-born Cashmore has battled injury over the last few years which forced her to reduce the training load to compensate.

She is one of more than 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing her to train full-time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support.

Cashmore added: “To win silver is such a relief. I felt quite a lot of pressure coming in. “It was incredible to see my family and friends out there. I just smiled the whole way.”