Best Gig on the planet
Mari in no hurry after silver
encouraged by the sight of servicemen coming back injured from war and turning to sport with their prosthetic limbs.
It was still a long journey from that moment to yesterday and a 41-second winning margin over Italy’s Michele Ferrarin. MARIEKE VERVOORT insists she is not about to end her life after winning Paralympic silver yesterday.
The Belgian wheelchair racer, 37, was said to be “considering” euthanasia after the Rio Games – but after finishing second in the T52 Lewis’ GB team- mate Ryan Taylor finished sixth, the same position as exserviceman Joe Townsend, in the PT1 competition.
Townsend lost both legs when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan in 2008 and spent six weeks in intensive care before 400m she clarified her position. “I made the decision a long time ago, in 2008,” said Vervoort, who at the age of 15 was diagnosed with a rare muscle condition.
“Not right after Rio. We will see. I have a really big bucket list.” more than three years in rehab – where he had more than 50 operations.
Yesterday, he showed that same determination to power to the finish line, where he was in need of treatment for apparent exhaustion. Inspiring, it most certainly was. MEGAN GIGLIA fell short of another cycling crown – despite breaking a world record in the velodrome.
The 31-year-old (above) provided one of the most inspiring stories of these Games by overcoming a stroke and brain haemorrhage to win GB’s first gold.
She was not able to repeat her triumph in the individual pursuit despite setting a world best time of 41.252secs in the C1-2-3 500 time trial.
Her mark was bettered by four riders and Giglia had to settle for fifth, with Holland’s Alyda Norbruis taking gold.
“I never dreamed I would get to this level,” Giglia said. “It has allowed me to turn what was a bad situation into a good one.”