Scottish Paralympians beat target to amass 11 medals

Monday 10 September 2012

SCOTS paralympians have outstripped all expectations at the 2012 Games.

Custom byline text:

The 27 Scots who took part in London collected 11 medals – three gold, six silver and two bronze – exceeding the target of nine set by sportscotland, the Government-funded agency.

The medal collection topped the eight in Bejiing, with the 2012 Paralympics hailed as the best ever for Scots competitors.

Among the medallists was cyclist Neil Fachie, from Aberdeen, who won gold in the kilometre time trial along with sighted pilot Barney Torey, and a silver.Partially sighted Evelyn McGlynn, from Glasgow, clinched silver in her women's cycling time trial, missing gold by just half a second.Rower David Smith, from Dunfermline, who was born with a club foot and later treated for cancer, took gold in the mixed four cox event.Gordon McCormack, chairman of Scottish Disability Sport, said he was delighted for every athlete who had taken part.He said: "The medal haul exceeded expectations but I have to say that we had lots of fourth places too in the last few days, so many athletes were unlucky not to be on the podium."There are no soft medals in the Paralympics these days and each member of the team was performing at a very high level. "With Glasgow 2014 to look forward to, I think we can safely say that the London 2012 experience has been a wonderful learning curve, setting up a tradition we can carry on."I have been struck by the way London has embraced the Games. The people have paid their money to watch disabled sport, they have turned up in huge numbers and raised the roof."There have been 70,000 turning up at the Olympic Stadium every day, 17,000 at the Aquatic Centre and so on, it's out of this world. A big step forward has been made."Mr McCormack said the many highlights had included wheelchair tennis star Gordon Reid, 20, of Helensburgh, making it to the quarter finals.Another "eye-opener" was the boccia competition which saw Stephen McGuire, from Hamilton, lose a bronze medal play-off.His brother Peter, also a boccia contender, saw his preparations disrupted by a health scare, which left him in intensive care the night before a crunch match.

Contextual targeting label:

Health

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Scottish Paralympians beat target to amass 11 medals

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED