Paralympic sprint medal has Kinghorn desperate for more

Sammi Kinghorn ended her wait for Games glory with bronze to give ParalympicsGB a first women’s 100m T53 medal since 2004.

Kinghorn finished fifth in the event on Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 and was fourth over 800m earlier this week but wasn’t missing out on the podium this time around, finishing third behind Chinese pair Gao Fang and Zhou Hongzhuan.

The 25-year-old, who holds the 200m world

record, didn’t get off to the fastest start but picked up speed in the middle phase to clock 16.53 and bag bronze by a margin of 0.37 seconds.

“To be able to call myself a bronze medallist knowing there were moments in the race I definitely could have done more and done better is huge for me,” she said.

“I know there are only three years to Paris 2024 and I know that I can get stronger.

“Coming fifth in Rio, coming third now, hopefully that trajectory continues to go up and up and up.

“I just didn't want to come fourth again. I'm up on the podium this time and I can't believe that I am, which is amazing.”

Kinghorn’s achievements will take some time to sink in but she certainly won’t be resting on her laurels.

Her time in Tokyo is far from done yet, with the 400m T53 event to come a day after taking her place on the sprint podium.

Already the Scot is keeping half an eye on Paris, excited about what’s to come in an event she knows she has yet to master.

“I'm still very young in this sport, I haven't been doing it that long and I'm still learning,” she added.

“Especially in wheelchair racing, you see athletes coming in and hitting their peak into their 30s. I'm 25 and I've still got a lot that I've yet to do.

“I know I can get faster, I've gone faster in training but to actually come and do it on this stage is completely different.”

Experience at Paralympic level may be one thing but the tension Kinghorn feels on the start line isn’t likely to disappear any time soon.

“You're terrified, I won't lie and say I was absolutely chilled on the start line because I wasn't,” she added.

“My mouth was as dry as a desert and I was scared.

“Each time you get on the track, you learn that little bit more. I will learn and one day I'll be in the middle of that podium, I do believe that.”