Cock-a-hoop!
HERO HANNAH
AS Tropical Storm Mirinae made landfall in Tokyo, there was just no stopping Hurricane Hannah.
Bloodied but still not beaten, Hannah Cockroft powered to yet another Paralympic gold, despite racing with a heavily bandaged right hand.
There is no pleasing some people but class act Cockroft is often in a race with herself, admitting being ‘gutted’ to miss her own world record.
“I was so close to it, I couldn’t have got closer if I’d tried,” she said.
“On the warm-up track I put my hand through the wheel while the chair was moving, I’ve never ever done that but I decided to do it now. It was pretty bloody but it’s fine.
“The doctors were leaning towards pulling me out but I was, ‘No way.’ Even if my hand had fallen off I was going to be on that start line.”
Cockroft took nearly 12 seconds off her Paralympic record from five years ago, clocking 1:48.99 for the T34 800m, just a tenth slower than her world best.
But she admitted frustration the bronze medallist she so soundly beat will bank a win bonus – while she will be left empty-handed.
Britain’s highly successful and muchenvied funding model sees athletes receive up to £30,000 a year tax free from UK Sport via the National Lottery.
But other countries, including the United States, Australia and New Zealand, have increasingly adopted win bonuses, a strategy not used in the UK.
However, it is believed British Athletics previously provided an additional payment for successful members of their team but these bonuses were scrapped for the Tokyo cycle.
American Alexa Halko, who finished almost 14 seconds behind the seventime Paralympic champion will bank £10,900 for her run.
“It does feel a bit of a step backwards, I’m a bit gutted that my bronze medallist is going to make more than me off these Games but there you go,” added Cockroft.
“I got prize money after London and Rio but this time we’re just here. However, we are incredibly lucky to have the support of the National Lottery funding from UK Sport.”
Zak Skinner agonisingly missed out a prized medal – just two centimetres off a place on the podium.
The long jumper – whose father is former England rugby star Micky – had endured a nightmare build-up to the Games, missing key preparation time after a hamstring injury and then contracting Covid.