Algerian wins gold and sets world record at men’s 1500m final in Rio

Algeria’s Abdellatif Baka has won the country’s first Paralympic gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil.

Baka clinched gold to set a world record of three minutes and 48.29 seconds with Ethiopia’s Tamiru Demisse taking silver and Kenyan Henry Kirwa winning bronze.

The race for visually impaired athletes made history by its first four runners crossing the finishing line fast enough to have won gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“It wasn’t easy to get this gold medal,” Baka said after his win. “I’ve been working for one or two years non-stop and it’s been very, very hard for me.”

Baka was joined by his twin brother Fouad who came fourth in the same race. Baka’s gold takes Algeria’s medal total to nine at this year’s games.