Moscow, Sep 11 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has lauded the country's "courageous" achievements at the London Paralympics.

Monumental efforts particularly in athletics, where 19 gold were won, and the pool, the scene of 13 Russian victories, propelled the country to runner-up in the table behind China.

Russia recorded 36 gold and 101 medals in total, easily eclipsing previous Paralympics.

"I'd like to congratulate from all of us those people who took part in the Paralympic Games, because our team performed brilliantly, significantly improving up the results of previous Olympics," Medvedev said at his residence outside Moscow.

"It shows that our paralympians have a very powerful inner core, character, they are courageous and strong people who have proved in an uncompromising battle that in the absolute majority of sports they have no equals."

Russia sent 182 competitors to the Paralympics, where they took part in 12 sporting disciplines.

The Chinese were long out of sight at the top of the medals table, racking up 95 gold, 71 silver and 65 bronze.

Hosts Britain came a close third with 34 gold.