Libby Clegg will be back in Paralympic action today after admitting she endured a rollercoaster of emotions on her way to gold.

The 26-year-old partially sighted runner, from Newcastleton, won the T11 100 metres title in Rio on Friday night.

On her way to the final she had beaten the world record previously held by Brazil’s Terezinha Guilhermina in Friday morning’s semi-final, but then a rival lodged a protest.

Britain successfully appealed against the claim that guide Chris Clarke had dragged her in the race, contrary to regulations.

It meant the 11.91 seconds world record stood and Clegg and Clarke could run in the final. The pair will be competing in the T11 200 metres heats today.

Clegg, in her third Paralympics, claimed her third medal after silvers in the T12 class at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, with victory in 11.96secs.

“It’s been a bit of a tough day,” Clegg said following her late-night win in Rio on Friday.

“I thought they were going to protest Chris being so close on the line with me, because we know that we cut it fine. I never thought it would be through dragging.

“I’d never what to dishonourably win a medal or cheat or break the rules in any way.

“I was a little bit upset that allegation had been made against me.

“I’m just glad I’ve got a fantastic technical support team that fought my corner.”

Clarke described himself as being “like John Terry”, the Chelsea captain who in 2012 lifted the European Cup in full kit after a Champions League final for which he was suspended.

“She did all the work, I’m just here, like John Terry,” Clarke said on Channel 4.

Clarke, who teamed up with Clegg in February, was concerned that, like Terry has been known to do, he had made a major error at a crucial moment.

“I was just thinking ’oh God – I hope I haven’t ruined her chances’,” he added.

Clegg suffers from a deteriorating eye condition which means she only has slight peripheral vision in her left eye and she is registered as blind.

Her eyesight has deteriorated, leading to her reclassification from a T12 to a T11 sprinter – and meaning she had to compete in a blindfold, something she did for the first time at July’s Anniversary Games in London.

“It is still terrifying. It’s really exhilarating at the same time though,” she added.