That was so close! Samantha Kinghorn wins Bronze at Commonwealth Games
Last updated 4th Aug 2022
Borders wheelchair racer Samantha Kinghorn has won Bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The 26-year-old only narrowly missed out on second place in the final of the Women's T53/54 1500 metres, after being pipped on the line.
She finished third in a time of 3 minutes, 53.38 seconds; while Australia's Angela Ballard scooped Silver with a time of 3 minutes, 53.30 seconds.
Madison de Rozario made it an Aussie double by grabbing Gold, with a time of 3 minutes 53.03 seconds.
After the race a delighted Sammi said: "I came fifth in Glasgow as an 18-year-old, I came fourth in the Gold Coast... so I'm improving year on year.
"1500 metres is not my event, you can see that it is not my event. I know in the draft I was just trying to recover as much as I could with no help from anyone else.
"I just tried to kick but obviously I burned out a little bit in the home straight and got caught but do you know what? A medal for Scotland. That's dream come true. Genuinely it's dream come true.
"I said to my dad: 'Mistakes were made.' But he said: 'No, you fought to the line and that's what I want. I don't ever want to win easy'.
"I want to fight every single race and to win a Bronze medal; knowing I fought for it means a lot to me.
"My family mean the world to me and I'm so lucky that so many people managed to come down here and watch me. And this crowd, obviously most of them are probably English but, they are absolutely getting behind the home nations.
"I could hear them when I started to accelerate down that back straight. I could hear the crowd getting louder and I was like 'come on, let's do this.'
"You want to celebrate with everyone and I have loads of friends and family. My brother and his family will have been screaming watching me, and I hope that I have done everyone as proud as I can.
"To see my mum and dad - who are my biggest inspirations... they have genuinely always told me that life can be very short, or life can be very long, so why would you spend any time doing something you don't enjoy and I love this? I genuinely love this."
Watching back home on TV, the former Earlston High School pupil's supporters were quick to take to social media to praise her performance.
One said: "That was so close! Well done Samantha Kinghorn."
Another added: "Massive congratulations. Well chuffed for your result on the 1500 - never seen you let up once!"
Samantha - or Sammi as she's affectionately known - discovered wheelchair racing at the Spinal Unit Games, after being involved in a life-changing accident on a farm in the Scottish Borders, aged just 14.
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, said: ‘’What an incredible performance by Sammi Kinghorn to bring home the Bronze medal, her first Commonwealth Games medal!
"She produced a wonderful performance in this race and this Bronze is thoroughly deserved.
"It is the result of a huge amount of effort and our congratulations go to Sammi, her support staff including everyone at Scottish Athletics.’’