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Two athletes return to the Tokyo Olympic Stadium seeking a second medal at the 2020 Paralympic Games, but the real story to get your heart racing is vision-impaired runner Sam Harding.
Harding has a Lazarus-style of reputation ahead of competing in the 1500m (T13) today.
He was selected for the Australian team for London 2012 but then was struck down by glandular fever and didn’t get to compete.
More disappointment ahead of Rio 2016 missing out on qualifying as the now 30-year-old thought his time might have passed him by.
But he’s come back from those depths to finally take his place at a Paralympic Games. When his name was read out as one of the team debutants on the 36-member Australian track-and-field team, the entire squad erupted into cheers and applause.
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“Sam making the team has lifted all of us since he hadn’t made an Australian team since 2012 (London Paralympics),” Australian team distance coach Philo Saunders said.
“He was originally an 800m runner but his event was taken off the (Paralympic) program so he dropped to 400m. That wasn’t really his event, but he’s found his groove in the 1500.
“He was close to making Rio and close to going to Dubai (2019 World Championships). So the whole group is happy for him and they’ve all been feeding off each other.”
Alongside him in the 1500m (T13) final is 5000m silver medallist Jaryd Clifford.
Clifford holds the world record in this event – a 3:41.34 he set in Canberra in March this year. He is also the current World Champion from Dubai two years ago (3:47.78).
Fellow two-time Paralympian, World Champion and world record holder, James Turner, makes his first Tokyo appearance in the final of the 400m (T36). He won the 800m gold in Rio but the event has been removed from the program.
Turner has adapted and took home the 2019 Dubai World Championships gold in 51.71s – the current world mark.
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Madison de Rozario took silver in the 1500m at the 2019 Dubai World Championships but she’s got a fight on her hands to reach the podium in the Tokyo Paralympic final, coming in at 10th fastest qualifier, securing the last spot in the line-up.
But the 27-year-old is a big stage player. She’s at her fourth Paralympics alongside five World Championships for a combined 12-medal haul.
Games debutant Alissa Jordaan is back in the 100m (T47) heats after making the final of the 400m on Saturday night.
And making his entrance into the Tokyo arena in Shot Put (F20) class is Tasmania’s finest in Todd Hodgetts.
The athlete they call ‘the gentle giant’ will try to add to London gold and Rio bronze in this event.
By: Margie McDonald, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 31 August 2021
