Masters, who was born in Ukraine with significant birth defects believed to be linked to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, including missing thumbs and weight-bearing bones in her legs, claimed the seventh Paralympic gold of her career when she won the H4-5 category.

The 35-year-old has previously won medals in rowing and in a range of winter sports including cross-country skiing.

Storey, competing in her ninth Paralympics at the age of 46, won the 18th gold medal of a career that began in swimming by taking the C5 time trial in the Paris suburbs ahead of French hope Heidi Gaugain.

Born without a functioning left hand, Storey has now won 29 Paralympics medals of all colours since she made her debut at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

But she slammed the Paris organisers for having a course measuring 14.1km, saying it was the first time she had raced a Games course shorter than 22km.

“This is the shortest Paralympic time trial we have ever had, and I think it’s a real shame because we don’t get to showcase para-sport in the way we want to,” Storey told British media.

“You’ll have to ask organisers. There’s plenty of time in the day for us to do two laps like the men. Having fought so hard for parity in women’s cycling, to not have it is a real disappointment.”