Kinghorn's gold caps dream Games on successful day for Scots

2 months ago 11
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Sammi Kinghorn is undoubtedly having the Paralympic games of her life. Perhaps beyond even her own wildest imagination.

The Scot delivered an almighty performance in the Stade de France on Wednesday evening to romp home to her first-ever Paralympic gold medal in the women’s 100m T53 final in Paris.

Paralympic champion.

“I just can't believe that I've done that,” she beamed post-race. “It's honestly absolutely blowing my mind.”

“I really wanted to give Catherine [Debrunner] a really good race.

“I beat her once this year, but she beat me every other time, but I knew our times were within a tenth of each other, so I just wanted to make sure that my start was really strong.”

As a side note to this iconic win, it was also a Paralympic record time.

In producing that, Kinghorn saw off world record holder Debrunner who went in as favourite to win this race, albeit they are close rivals in this event.

The Melrose-born athlete became the first non-Chinese winner of this event in 20-years, following Tanni Grey-Thompson’s win in Athens 2004.

It has been an astonishing few days for her with two silvers already before this incredible victory.

Her first came in the 800m T53. The second, unexpectedly, by Kinghorn’s own admission in the 1500m, an event she had little elite level experience in until now.

She might even go further with at least one more event in the 400m to follow in Paris in what has evolved into a quite incredible performance

"I just can't believe that I've done that,” Kinghorn said.

"I didn't want to celebrate too early. I just wanted to definitely make sure that my name was at the top of that screen so it took a little moment to actually compose myself and go, ‘Oh my gosh, I've actually just done that.’”

At Roland Garros, Gordon Reid initially suffered disappointment in the singles, losing his quarter-final to Argentine Gustavo Fernandez in straight sets.

Despite that he later responded in the doubles alongside partner Alfie Hewett.

The pair got the better of home favourites Federic Cattaneo and Stephane Houdet 6-4, 6-3 to reach a third Paralympic final and guarantee at least a silver medal.

However, It’s gold they are desperate for after missing out in two previous finals.

“We’ve left no stone unturned and given ourselves the best chance now to go one step further," Reid told BBC Scotland.

"We know it's sport, we know anything can happen but we're ready to give everything we have.”

Reid, 32, also confirmed that no matter the outcome he has no intention of this being his last Paralympics.

“I'm definitely going to play in LA in four years time, so it just depends whether Alfie dumps me or not,” he said.

“I have no plans to stop. I think in wheelchair tennis, you can go maybe a little bit longer in the sport."

There was more good news in the Para-cycling women’s B individual road time trial where Jenny Holl earned a silver medal by piloting Sophie Unwin as the pair added to their gold and bronze medals.

However, simmer Stephen Clegg missed the chance to add two more medals to his gold earlier this week in the S12 100m backstroke.

The 28-year-old from Edinburgh finished fourth in the S12 100m freestyle final and in the mixed 4 x 100m freestyle relay - 49 points final.

Also in the Paris La Defense Arena, Aberdeen’s Toni Shaw reached the S9 100m women’s freestyle final but finished eighth.

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