News

Preview: Six golds up for grabs on final day

Before the Closing Ceremony brings to an end the London 2012 Paralympic Games, a total of six gold medals will be handed out as the last day of action sees the conclusion of the Football 7-a-side and Wheelchair Rugby events, as well as the four Marathon races.
David Weir of Great Britain
David Weir will feature in the men's Marathon - T54 event on Day 11 of the Paralympic Games.

David Weir has been one of the stars of the Games, after winning three golds on the track for Great Britain, and he will line up against a stellar field for the men's Marathon - T54.

Weir won the London Marathon for a sixth time in April, but will need to be at his supreme best if he is to get the better of Australia's Kurt Fearnley, who won the 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Games Marathon titles and has won 31 of the 43 marathons he has raced in.

Switzerland's Marcel Hug, the 800m - T54 silver medallist, finished just a second behind Weir in the 2012 London Marathon and is likely to feature, while the likes of Canada's Josh Cassidy, Spain's Rafael Botello Jimenez, Japan's Masazumi Soejima and Joshua George of the USA are all capable of fast times.

In the women's Marathon - T54, Britain's Shelly Woods also won the London Marathon this year but once again faces the incredible talent of the USA's Tatyana McFadden, who has taken the Games by storm in the track events, and 2011 world champion Wakako Tsuchida of Japan.

Spain's Alberto Suarez Laso is the world record-holder in the men's Marathon - T12 and has recorded a time of 2:23.24 this season to suggest he is in great form and the one to beat.

The men's Marathon - T46 defending champion, Mario Santillan Hernandez of Mexico, won gold at the 2011 World Championships in New Zealand but on paper he is more than a minute slower than Abderrahman Ait Khamouch, who competes for Spain.

The final of the Football 7-a-side at the Riverbank Arena is a repeat of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games gold-medal match, Ukraine against Russia. Ukraine triumphed on that occasion.

Russia, who beat Brazil 3-1 in their semi-final, will be looking to regain the title they last won at the Sydney 2000 Games, while Ukraine are looking to win gold for a third consecutive time and booked their own place in the final with a 2-1 win over Iran.

The Wheelchair Rugby competition reaches its climax at the Basketball Arena and sees Australia take on Canada in the final.

Canada overcame two-time Paralympic Games gold medallists and reigning world champions the USA 50-49 in a thrilling semi-final, while Australia defeated Japan 59-45.


advertisement
You need to be logged into Facebook to enable social sharing on London2012.com

Most recent activity

  • You do not have any activity yet

Added to your activity
x

x
Remind me every time I add to my activity

09
September