Brent Lakatos aiming for more gold after 100-metre victory

RIO DE JANEIRO — With one gold medal in the bag, wheelchair racer Brent Lakatos will have no time to rest as he gears up for this weekend's 400-metre T53.

The 36-year-old says he's "looking forward to redeeming himself" after the world championships in Doha, Qatar, last year, where he finished second behind Li Huzhao of China.

"It's going to be a tight race," Lakatos said from the Olympic Stadium in Rio Friday morning. "[Li] got me at the world championships last year, then there is another Chinese athlete that beat him in another race. It's going to be a close race and a real fight."

With a goal of winning three medals coming into these Games, the four-time Paralympian is ranked No. 1 in the 400 after setting a 47.83-second personal best in July. That event took place in London, where Lakatos lives with his wife, fellow Paralympian Stef Reid, who competes for Great Britain.

Lakatos began his busy four-event schedule Friday morning with a Paralympic record in the 100. But he had no time to relish in his accomplishment as he raced to the long jump pit to watch Stef win a silver medal in the T44 amputee long jump.

"I just want her to go far," Lakatos said. "It's easy when I'm racing because I'm in control, but watching her is difficult because there's nothing I can do."

At the 2012 Paralympics, it was reported the two had a bet that whoever won the first gold medal wouldn't have to do any dishes. This year, though, all bets are off.

"I had more chances to win than her," Lakatos said with a laugh. Reid is entered in only the one event. "She didn't want to take that bet this year."

Lakatos' mother Barb Payson, who along with other family members travelled from Montreal to watch the couple compete, seemed to have solution to the rivalry.

"I'm going to have to buy them paper plates," she said.

The 400 heats are scheduled for Saturday evening with the final Sunday morning.