It's Super Saturday at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and ParalympicsGB have won lots of medals of all three colours. There have been some amazing performances today but I want to single out two that made me cheer out loud watching them on telly - Richard Whitehead in the 200m on the track and Ellie Simmonds in the 400m freestyle in the pool. Both were very special performances.
Richard Whitehead is a passionate marathon runner who also now holds the world record for the 200m. He's a double amputee with an ungainly running style that just works for him. It was amazing to see him at the back and then just glide through the field to the front and keep pulling away from everyone else to win in style and set a new world record. Afterwards, he said he runs like Dame Kelly Holmes - from the back. It was just astonishing to see him overtake all the other athletes, most of whom were single amputees and power through the finishing line. And it was lovely to see him celebrating afterwards, doing his lap of honour and refusing to leave the track without hugging his family and fiancé.
The other joy was seeing Ellie Simmonds in the pool for the 400m freestyle. She's only 17 and won two Gold medals in Beijing four years ago. Could she defend her Gold? Of course she could! She not only retained her title but she set a new world record in doing so! It was tense up until the last 100m when, every time she looked about ready to take the lead they came up to a turn and she's so small she always ended up second again. And then she did it, went up a gear and turned first and started pulling away bit by bit, extending her lead and stomped on the race. It was hers - she did it! I cheered and clapped and cried. The pool will erupt with cheers for your medal ceremony and you'll have earned every single cheer. Well done lass!
There's so much more to come ...
Richard Whitehead is a passionate marathon runner who also now holds the world record for the 200m. He's a double amputee with an ungainly running style that just works for him. It was amazing to see him at the back and then just glide through the field to the front and keep pulling away from everyone else to win in style and set a new world record. Afterwards, he said he runs like Dame Kelly Holmes - from the back. It was just astonishing to see him overtake all the other athletes, most of whom were single amputees and power through the finishing line. And it was lovely to see him celebrating afterwards, doing his lap of honour and refusing to leave the track without hugging his family and fiancé.
The other joy was seeing Ellie Simmonds in the pool for the 400m freestyle. She's only 17 and won two Gold medals in Beijing four years ago. Could she defend her Gold? Of course she could! She not only retained her title but she set a new world record in doing so! It was tense up until the last 100m when, every time she looked about ready to take the lead they came up to a turn and she's so small she always ended up second again. And then she did it, went up a gear and turned first and started pulling away bit by bit, extending her lead and stomped on the race. It was hers - she did it! I cheered and clapped and cried. The pool will erupt with cheers for your medal ceremony and you'll have earned every single cheer. Well done lass!There's so much more to come ...
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