‘Just one piece of a puzzle’: McGrath creates history with double gold in canoeing

Curtis McGrath’s brilliant Paralympic campaign continued on Saturday as the former Afghanistan soldier became the first canoe sprint athlete to win two golds at the same Games.

After defending his men’s kayak single 200m KL2 title in Tokyo on Friday, McGrath made it two medals in two days with a comfortable win in the Va’a single VL3 200m final at the event’s Paralympic debut.

Curtis McGrath celebrates winning gold in Tokyo.Credit: Getty

McGrath crossed the line in 50.537 seconds in the 200m race, well ahead of Brazil’s Giovane Vieira de Paula (52.148) and Great Britain’s Stuart Wood (52.760).

“I’m glad it’s all done. I managed to achieve all my dreams and my goals here,” McGrath said.

“The initial goal was to come here and stand on top of the podium twice. Despite the distractions of COVID and the heat and the climate and everything ... I’ve come here and achieved the top pinnacle. I’m very happy with the double gold.

“I was so nervous coming down the run. Being a debut event and wanting to put my foot down in the sport and maintain my undefeated status in this event was something that meant a lot to me.”

“I’m just one piece of a puzzle that creates this moment and these Games.”

Paralympian Curtis McGrath

McGrath lost both legs when he stepped on an explosive device in Afghanistan in 2012.

He reflected on his journey from an arduous recovery to becoming one of the all-time greats in his sport with three Paralympic gold medals.

“From the battlefield of Afghanistan, laying in the dirt and potentially going to die, all the people from that moment all the way through my recovery and up to here, and my family and friends beyond that, all of the effort and the work they put in to support me ... this is just a tribute to that,” McGrath said. “I’m just one piece of a puzzle that creates this moment and these Games.”

Australian sprinter James Turner took silver in his T36 100m final after admitting that he was distracted at the start of the race by a competitor.

James Turner (left) makes his way down the track.Credit: Agencies

Turner clocked 12 seconds flat, just behind China’s Deng Peicheng in 11.85, which was outside the Australian’s world record of 11.72 that he set in 2019.

Before the race, a Malaysian athlete moved slightly in the lane next to Turner, which he said put him off.

“I’m thinking how I’m going to do things better next time,” said a visibly disappointed Turner after the medal ceremony. “I absolutely let myself get distracted. I saw movement next to me. My body wanted to go with it and I let it.

“I’ve got to put the blinders on for next time.”

Australia claimed another two athletics medals in the evening, with Dion Kenzie winning bronze in the T38 1500m event, behind Canada’s Nate Riech in first.

Nicholas Hum picked up second place in the T20 category long jump with a best jump of 7.12m. Abdul Latif Romly won the gold with a distance of 7.45m.

Meanwhile, Paralympics Australia announced on Saturday that swimmer Tom Gallagher was admitted to hospital on Wednesday with acute pancreatitis after his bronze medal in the S10 400m freestyle event.

Gallagher is unlikely to return to Australia on a charter flight with his teammates but other arrangements are being organised.

“Tom is receiving excellent care from hospital staff, is resting comfortably and remains stable,” PA said in a statement.

Cyclist Carol Cooke also remains in hospital recovering from broken ribs and a punctured left lung that she sustained in a heavy crash during her road race on Thursday.

She will also return to Australia once she is cleared by medical officials.

“She remains in good spirits despite her injuries,” the statement said.

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