Sammi Kinghorn received recognition for her first gold medal.
The Brit wins her third medal in Paris as she sets a new Paralympic record ahead of Swiss athlete Catherine Debrunner
Sammi Kinghorn won her first Paralympic gold medal last night (September 4) as she soared to victory in the women’s T53 100m in Paris.
The 23-year-old crossed the line in a Paralympic record of 15.64 at the Stade de France, as she edged out Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner.
This is not the first medal of the Games that Kinghorn has won after she secured two silver medals in the 800m and 1500m, where she was narrowly beaten by Debrunner on both occasions.
Sammi Kinghorn‘s nickname of ‘Silver Sammi’ is no more. The victory marks a significant milestone in her career, bringing her total Paralympic medal count to five, including a bronze and silver she earned three years ago at the Tokyo Games.
Debrunner, who had also previously won gold in the 5000m in Paris, finished second in the 100m clocking 15.77. Tokyo champion Gao Fang from China took the bronze in 16.61.
Catherine Debrunner, Sammi Kinghorn & Gao Fang (Getty)
“My start was good which I knew it had to be.” Kinghorn said. “I knew my first push was really good, it was weird because normally in a Paralympic final they would put the fastest three athletes next to each other but there was a gap between me and Catherine (Debrunner), and me and Gao (Fang). I didn’t really see them; I could just about see them in my peripheral. I told myself to dig in, come on!
“When I crossed the line, it was so close I didn’t know if I had won or not. Catherine turned to me and said, ‘you got it’. I wanted to just wait until I saw my name on that screen before I celebrate. I definitely didn’t know until my name came up on the screen.
“Personally, I feel like the 100m is my event. I have raced Catherine four times over the 100m so far this year, and I’d only beaten her once before. Going into this I think there was a tenth between us in the world rankings, so I knew it was going to be close. I thought if I was going to win any, it would be this one.
“I have 29 people here supporting me, posters and all. Family, friends, my partner’s family. I heard all about 2012 but didn’t get to experience it, but I think this is the closest I am going to get to a home Paralympic Games. Honestly, the roar on the start line is incredible.”
Sammi Kinghorn (Getty)
When she was 14-years-old, Kinghorn was paralysed from the waist down after an accident on a family farm in the Scottish borders.
She has now made history as the first non-Chinese athlete to win the Paralympic T53 100m since Britain’s Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson claimed victory in Athens back in 2004.
Looking ahead, Kinghorn will face off once again against her Swiss rival in the 400m event this afternoon (September 5).
Elsewhere, Karim Chan from Great Britain made his Paralympic debut in the men’s T38 long jump where he finished just one centimetre off the podium after jumping 6.39m.
Adding to the medal tally this morning, Anna Nicholson won her first-ever Paralympic medal in the women’s F35 shot put, claiming bronze with a throw of 9.44m.
Great Britain are currently sitting eighth on the medal table with a total of eight medals, with many more up for grabs.
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Tears of joy streamed from her eyes as she greeted her family in the stands before dedicating the victory to her brother on his birthday.
“I just can’t believe that I’ve done that,” she said. “It’s honestly absolutely blowing my mind.
I just can’t believe that I’ve done that,” she said. “It’s honestly absolutely blowing my mind.
“This one is definitely for my brother.”
Additionally, Maureen Campbell, the chair of Sportscotland, has been all praise for Kinghorn.
“Sammi Kinghorn truly deserves this gold medal, adding to her two silvers she has won already,” she said. “Sammi 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 a real inspiration to the next generation of athletes.”
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