'Focused' Fanie grabs gold

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Athens - South African shot-putter Fanie Lombard says he fully expected to win the gold medal in the men's F42 final.

Lombard said shortly after his victory that hard work had made him sure he'd achieve his goal of winning gold.

"I expected to win. I worked really hard and I was sure that I could do it," said Lombard.

"This is by far the best feeling at all the Paralympic Games I've been to.

"The crowd is really fantastic, very enthusiastic and helped a lot."

Lombard said he was "very calm and focused" before his event. "I wasn't really stressed. I knew what I had to do and what I was able to do," he added.

Lombard said Athens would probably be his final Paralympics, but added he hadn't closed the door on a possible appearance in China four years from now.

"This is propably my last appearence at the Paralympic Games.

"I will continue competing for two more years, and if I do well, maybe I will be at Beijing too," he quipped.

Lombard edged out Belarus athlete Vildar Khilmonchyk into silver, with Mehrdad Karam grabbing bronze.