Scott Reardon’s Paralympic gold medal maintains Temora’s standing as a home of sporting champions

SCOTT Reardon’s Paralympic gold medal in the T42 100m sprint at Rio’s Olympic Stadium maintains tiny Temora’s standing as a home of sporting champions.

Scott Reardon went one better in Rio than his silver medal in London four years ago.

THE SHAMROCK might not survive this one, Scott Reardon reckons.

Because, sure, Temora’s pub-come-Chinese restaurant has rattled through a fair share of local boys winning AFL premierships, NRL flags, Origin classics, even triathlon world championships.

But never has this Riverina town of less than 4000 had a Paralympic champion to call its own.

That is, until now.

“Oh, and they’ll all be up,” Reardon grins. “They don’t care — 7am, 1.30am, they’ll be loving it.

“I had a couple of people comment that when they got up the first night they were surprised they didn’t get a noise complaint from the neighbours because they were yelling at the TV.

“They’ll be pretty amazed with some of the stuff we’ve been able to do.

“But it is more than just me. There’s a whole band of people who were able to get me through my accident; helped my family keep functioning as people through my accident.

“The Temora community is something quite exceptional. I owe a lot to all of those guys back home.”

Scott Reardon celebrates winning the gold medal in the 100m — T42 in Rio.

Reardon on Friday claimed his maiden Paralympics gold medal in his T42 100m sprint at Rio’s Olympic Stadium, holding off Denmark’s Daniel Wagner and Great Britain’s Richard Whitehead, who dead-heated for silver.

Amazingly, he matched his own Paralympic record time of 12.26s, set in the previous day’s heat.

“Yeah, I jogged in the heat and ran as hard as I could just then — and I still couldn’t run any faster,” he laughed.

The victory pushed Reardon one step higher than the silver he won in the same event in London four years ago.

A Games gold medal was the farthest thought in Reardon’ mind in 2002 when, aged 12, his shoelace became caught in the power take-off shaft of a tractor on the family’s property.

His right leg was severed through the knee, forcing surgery and a month-long recovery.

The nephew of Canterbury Bulldogs great Steve Reardon had been an accomplished water-skiier before the accident and quickly perfected the sport on one leg, becoming a decorated world champion.

In 2009, a move to Canberra’s Australian Institute of Sport to take athletics seriously led to his selection for the London team.

“I think it might take a few days to actually truly understand what this is,” he said of his gold medal.

Three-time premiership winner Luke Breust is another Temora champion.

“Relief is the first thing that comes to mind, but I’m extremely proud of what not only myself but my coach (Iryna Dvoskina) has been able to do.

“If you saw me come through your door, a 165cm 55kg guy, and said ‘he’s going to be a Paralympic champion one day’, I would’ve called you crazy. But she saw that in me and was able to turn that person into the person I am today, a Paralympic champion.

“It’s a pretty amazing feeling.”

Before Friday, Temora’s incredible sporting pedigree boasted Dally M Medallist and Manly coach Trent Barrett, 259-game forward Todd Payten and Melbourne Storm’s Ryan Hinchcliffe.

There’s Luke Breust, a three-time premiership forward with Hawthorn, 1980 Olympic swimming relay gold medallist Mark Kerry and world champion triathlete Brad Kahlefeldt, all from this small community halfway between Wagga Wagga and West Wyalong.

“We’re a really good sporting community,” Reardon said.

Reardon out-sprinted defending champion Richard Whitehead to claim the gold.

“When there’s not a lot else to do except play sport, you play sport I guess.

“There’s no beach, nothing like that, so you find sport.

“With the history of really good athletes from the town, your aspirations to be great are always there. Excellence is kind of bred into the town.”

Reardon conceded while his achievements could at least be considered in the same conversation as those greats, not even a gold medal could dethrone the town’s one true sporting icon.

“Well, Paleface Adios (the legendary pacer) has a statue in the main street, so he probably still sits at the top,” he shrugged.

WHAT’S IN THE WATER AT TEMORA?

Paleface Adios (iconic Australian pacer)

Trent Barrett (NRL)

Todd Payten (NRL)

Steve Reardon (NRL)

Ryan Hinchcliffe (NRL)

Josh McCrone (NRL)

Brett Firman (NRL)

Luke Breust (AFL)

Mark Kerry (1980 Olympic gold medal swimmer)

Brett Fritsch (multiple barefoot skiing champion)

Brad Kahlefeldt (World champion triathlete)

Scott Reardon (World Champion Water-Skier and Australian Paralympic T42 100m gold medallist)

Originally published as Scott Reardon’s Paralympic gold medal maintains Temora’s standing as a home of sporting champions