Three times a charm for ‘Lucky’ Patterson as she claims third consecutive Paralympic medal
Former gold medallist Lakeisha Patterson has come away from Paris with silver after day one of the Paralympic Games, marking a third consecutive podium finish for the three time Paralympian.
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Known to her friends, family and fans as “Lucky”, Lakeisha Patterson’s good fortune for once deserted her at the Paris Paralympics, but you wouldn’t have guessed it from her bubbly reaction.
Chasing a historic third straight Paralympic gold in 400m freestyle, Patterson led the race for about 390 metres, only to be pipped right on the wall by Hungary’s Zsofia Konkoly.
Patterson finished with the silver - taking her career Paralympic medal tally to eight - and said she had no regrets.
“400m is never going to be an easy race. I know that from experience,” she said.
“I gave it everything I had in the pool, and I knew it was going to be a tough one.
“I tried to fight for it from the start and I could see her obviously closing in that last 200m. I like the chase and I thought I would be able to get there.
“Being able to podium at all three games is certainly a special feeling.
“Coming away with a silver medal is definitely nothing to complain about. I take it year by year. I’m 25 now and I certainly feel like a veteran on our team. I know I’m not.”
A triple Paralympic and triple world champion, 25-year-old Patterson swam in the same lane as Ariarne Titmus when she struck gold in Paris a month ago.
She said watching Titmus win was a huge confidence boost and she was thrilled to see a packed La Defense Arena when she got her chance to dive in and race.
“I’ve seen the movement grow a lot and with that comes expectations and pressure we put on ourselves but I guess that’s a privilege,” she said.
“It just showcases how much the Paralympic movement has grown and to be able to have incredible thousands of people watching and supporting Paralympic athletes, putting us at the same level as our Olympic counterparts is pretty special.”
The Australian swim team won four medals on the first day at the Paris Paralympics.
Ton Gallagher won gold in the men’s 50m free, with Rowan Crothers taking bronze in the same race.
Flag-bearer Brenden Hall won bronze in the men;s 400m, just before Patterson’s silver.
Like their Olympic teammates, the Dolphins are one of the leading nations in Paralympic swimming and expected to win plenty more medals over the next week and a half.
“The Australian Dolphins swim team is pretty impressive. Obviously you have Olympic and Paralympic champions everywhere you look,” Patterson said.
“To be able to have such world class athletes in the 400 metre field in any field really is pretty special and being able to watch her (Titmus) at the Games is pretty incredible.
“Obviously we see each other around pool deck all the time. But, in terms of our own races, obviously we stick to what works for us.
“Arnie is an absolute legend, but what works for her may not work for me and vice versa. So, it’s obviously really great to be able to exchange tips for one another, but then today I’m the one that has execute it.”
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Originally published as Three times a charm for ‘Lucky’ Patterson as she claims third consecutive Paralympic medal
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