Powerlifter Zoe Newson was unable to sleep after her latest Paralympics success which saw her record her best ever competition lift.

The 32-year-old, from East Bergholt, claimed a silver medal in dramatic fashion in the women’s up to 45kg final in Paris on Wednesday. 

Newson needed to lift 109kg to claim second spot and initially seemed to have fouled, before making a successful appeal.

There were joyous celebrations after she claimed silverThere were joyous celebrations after she claimed silver (Image: Paralympics GB/PA Wire)

"We were just standing there because usually it tells you on the screen you've appealed, but it didn't," she said. 

"We were standing there and we heard the crowd cheering. We were like 'what's going on?' and Katie, the physio, was shouting at us saying 'look at the screen'.

"I saw the screen and it said 'successful lift', and then I don't know what happened after that."

Joyous celebrations saw the two-time bronze medallist hoisted into the air as she embraced with her coach. 

Zoe lifted 109kg to take the silver medalZoe lifted 109kg to take the silver medal (Image: Paralympics GB/PA Wire)

Her final lift was her best ever in competition. 

The 32-year-old was beaten to the gold medal by Chinese athlete Guo Lingling, who set a world record of 123kg during the event.

Ahead of the event, the medal winner said: "I think this time because I had my boy and fiancé there, I was a bit more relaxed. I was a bit like 'well if I don't win a medal, I've still had fun'.

"But because it started to get really close and tense, I started panicking but coaches calmed me down and I was alright."

The two-time bronze medallist has added a silver to her collectionThe two-time bronze medallist has added a silver to her collection (Image: Paralympics GB/PA Wire)

And how does a Paralympic athlete compose themselves during competition?

She added: "Sometimes I just play on my phone or me and my coaches have a little muck about. With others, that won't calm them but with me, that calms me.

"I just message people, play a couple of games and check social media."

Following the competition, she spent the night going over the event before a day of media appearances, including on Channel 4's The Last Leg, on Thursday.

"I was so tired," said Zoe. 

"Since I've moved to the village I was sleeping so well, but that night I could not sleep at all. I just kept going over and over in my head. 

"I saw my family in the morning, and then I went to GB house and did loads of media work. I went back to the village for about an hour and they were like 'oh, you're on The Last Leg'. I didn't get back until about midnight."

After competing in her fourth Paralympics, the Suffolk-born athlete will be taking time off when she returns home this weekend before deciding what she wants to do next.

"I think I am just going to have two weeks off and then decide do I carry on or say this is it," she added. 

"It will be nice to get back home and back to routine, and for my boy to start doing his stuff like going back to school."