Kiwi Anna Grimaldi dramatically won gold in the women's T47 long jump final as New Zealand made a promising start to the Rio Paralympics on Friday (NZ time).

And swimmer Rebecca Dubber finished third in the women's 100m backstroke S7 final to take out bronze, capping a double-medal opening day for the Kiwis in Rio.

Grimaldi was third before her final jump, but she then leapt into first with a distance of 5.62m.

JASON CAIRNDUFF Anna Grimaldi of New Zealand was all smiles during the presentation ceremony.

The 19-year-old Dunedin athlete smashed her previous personal best by 21 centimetres and finished just 3cm ahead of Cuba's Yundis Castillo, who won silver, and 5cm ahead of Australia's Carlee Beattie, who won bronze.

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Grimaldi managed to jump to gold with her sixth and final jump, which she could scarcely believe when she saw the distance.

But she still felt she was capable of producing that winning leap.

"When I arrived at the stadium today I was just so excited to compete and become a Paralympian," she said.

"I knew that my training had put me in great form so when I set a personal best on my second attempt I was thrilled.

HAGEN HOPKINS NZ's Rebecca Dubber won bronze in the women's 100m Backstroke S7.

"On the final jump I felt like I had nothing to lose, I was already in the bronze medal position and was so pleased with that.

"But I knew I just had to go for it one last time. I knew I had it in me somewhere."

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FAIRFAX NZ Cyclist Kate Horan got New Zealand's Paralympics campaign in Rio off to a flying start with a personal best in the women's 3km Pursuit C4.

Beattie and Castillo couldn't beat her with their respective final jumps, which means the young Kiwi is Paralympic champion, after she won bronze at last year's world championships in Doha.

Grimaldi's coach, Brent Ward, was over the moon with the result.

"Anna had nothing to lose on her final attempt and it was a brilliant jump," he said.

TVNZ On Day One, three swimmers have made it to their respective finals - including a stunning 1-2 finish in the women's 100m backstroke semi-final.

"Anna has being doing some really good training before she left. She's a very good competitor and extremely determined."

Grimaldi will also be running in the women's 100m and 200m T47 events. The 100m starts on Sunday morning (NZ time), with the 200m beginning on Friday morning (NZ time).

Dubber, 23, then won New Zealand's first medal in the pool, as she took out bronze in the final of the women's 100m backstroke S7.

Nikita Howarth competed with Dubber in the final after both qualified with personal best times, but Chinese swimmers Ke Liting and Zhang Ying won gold and silver with times of 1.23.06s and 1.24.34s respectively.

Dubber came in third at 1.23.85s, while Howarth finished back in sixth with a time of 1.25.37s.

An amazed Dubber has exceeded her own expectations by winning a medal in Rio.

"I'm not even really comprehending it right now. It's so exciting and amazing" she said.

"And to think, I was so nervous and unsure of what I would be capable of today and I've completely blown my expectations and I think everyone else's.

"It's been a massive journey to be here. I am grateful. Excited. After everything I have been through in the last four years I've earned my right to be here and I have earned my right to win that bronze medal."

Cyclist Kate Horan had to settle for fourth in the women's 3km pursuit C4. She was pipped in the ride-off for bronze by 0.356s, conceding the podium finish to American Megan Fisher.

Fisher recorded 4:04:081 to Horan's 4:04:437. Horan dominated the opening two kilometres but faded.

American Shawn Morelli won gold from Australia's Susan Powell.

Earlier Horan set a Paralympics record when she was the first New Zealander in action.

She rode 4:02.608 in qualifying. The times were subsequently bettered, leaving the Kiwi the third fastest qualifier. But she couldn't translate that into a medal finish.

Kiwi Blade Runner Liam Malone set a new Paralympic record in the Men's 100m T43 classification with a time of 10.90s.

The Nelson-sprinter qualified second fastest for Saturday's final behind reigning Paralympic champion, Britain's Jonnie Peacock.

Star swimmer Cameron Leslie was the first Kiwi in the pool and set a personal best 2:52.21 in the men's 200m freestyle S5.

Leslie qualified fifth fastest for the final but could only finish eighth, again achieving a personal best of 2:52.10s. Brazil's Daniel Dias convincingly won gold to a rapturous reception from the home crowd.