Just champion! Sammi strikes Gold at the Paralympics in Paris
Last updated 4th Sep 2024
Borders wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn has struck Gold at the Paralympics in Paris!
The 28-year-old, from Gordon, was first to cross the finish line for Great Britain in the T53 100 metres at the Stade de France this evening (Wednesday).
However, the former Earlston High School pupil had to complete the race in record time to edge out Swiss star Catherine Debrunner, who finished second.
Speaking following the race, Sammi said: "I don't think I'm going to believe it until the medal's actually round my neck!
"I really wanted to give Catherine a good race; I've beat her once this year but she's beat me every other time.
"I know our times were within a tenth of each other, so I just really wanted to make sure that my start was really strong and get out there.
"And I just can't believe that I've done that - it's honestly absolutely blown my mind!
"It took a moment to compose myself and go: 'Oh my gosh, I've actually just done that!'"
It's Sammi's first Gold at the Paralympics and follows on from her Silvers in the 800 and 1,500 metre events earlier this week.
And she immediately made her way to her family - who were in the stadium to support her - to celebrate.
"It's actually my brother's birthday tonight," Sammi revealed. "And when I saw the dates come out, and I’d seen that it was his birthday the night of the 100, I thought: 'The 100 is probably my best chance of winning, and I would love to do this for him.' So this one is definitely for my brother (Chris) tonight."
But she smiled: "I've got my 400 metre final tomorrow so I can't celebrate too much!"
Sammi won her first Paralympics medal at the Games in Tokyo four years ago. But her family had to remain at home in the Scottish Borders due to Covid restrictions.
The Great Britain star added: "Tokoyo for me was so difficult because, although it's an individual sport, I have a huge team around me and to not have my team, my family, and the crowds, was incredibly difficult to win my first Paralympic medal without them there.
"So, tonight is so emotional for them to be there and see me win my first Paralympic Gold medal."
Congratulating her on her success, sportscotland chair Maureen Campbell said: "Sammi Kinghorn truly deserves this Gold medal. She has performed outstandingly at these Paralympic Games and to come away with three medals and a Paralympic record is sensational!
"Sammi has put in an extraordinary amount of effort into preparing for these games and truly deserves all the success that she has achieved in Paris. She is real inspiration to the next generation of athletes!"
It's the second Gold medal for athletes from our region at the event, with Newcastleton swimmer Stephen Clegg winning the men’s 100m S12 backstroke on Saturday - setting a new world record of 59.02 seconds in the process.
But there could yet be more to come...
As well as the 400 metres final on Thursday (6.26pm), Sammi is also lined up to compete in the 4 x 100 metres relay on Friday (11.50am heats, 7.42pm final).
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