Nemesis edges out Holt in stunning 100m dash
AUSTRALIA’S boom sprinter Isis Holt has won a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics after being stunned by her Chinese nemesis – who hasn’t posted an official time this year but still managed to demolish the world record.
Holt – who won four world titles in her teens but is still chasing her first Paralympic gold medal – produced the run of her life when she flew down the Olympic Stadium track in a sizzling 13.13 seconds, eclipsing her own world record,
But she and everyone else were left shaking their heads that it still wasn’t enough to win the gold because China’s
Xia Zhou went even faster, stopping the clock at an almost unbelievable 13.00.
“I am really pleased with my record. I didn’t expect to set a world record, and it is very good to have this kind of performance,” Zhou said.
“Of course, I am very sur
prised. I never thought I could run this fast.”
Zhou wasn’t the only one surprised. Powerfully built, with legs like tree trunks, she is no stranger to Paralympic sprinting, having beaten Holt to win the 100m and 200m gold medals at Rio in 2016.
But the Australian turned the tables on her in 2017 and Zhou has hardly been seen since, skipping the 2019 world championships then not registering a single time this year.
It’s not uncommon for critics to speculate about sudden improvements by Chinese competitors but Holt had no concerns even though she admitted she hardly knows a thing about her greatest rival.
“We’re in call rooms together every four years, and that’s about the extent of it,” Holt said.
“At the end of the day, regardless of what anybody wants to chat about, it’s the best athlete on the day and it’s whoever is quicker.”