The 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games drew to a close with Scotland’s final member of ParalympicsGB taking to the track prior to the spectacular closing ceremony.
Athletics
Fife’s Derek Rae exorcised the demons of his Rio 2016 experience, where he was unable to finish, by completing the Tokyo course and finishing 9th in the T45 Marathon. The Fife AC athlete suffered a stress fracture in his lower back in June and his 2:47:04 run was a testament to his resilience and professionalism.
Following his race, Derek commented;
“I’m proud of myself for getting to the start line,”
“There was a doubt in my mind as to whether I’d compete but it was an honour to get here and represent ParalympicsGB.”
“I ran pretty much the whole race on my own and I wouldn’t have got through it were it not for the crowds. They’ve given us such a warm welcome here.”
“Rio has motivated me since it happened, it never left my mind. It was a demon but the final nail is now in that coffin.”
Scotland’s final medal tally at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympic Games is 21, with two gold, nine silver and ten bronze. This total surpasses the 17 medals won by Scots on ParalympicsGB at the 2016 Rio Games.
Photo – courtesy of imagecomms