Well, that was an exciting qualifying session. First Scotland’s Aileen McGlynn and Louise Haston set a new Games Record of 11.419 only to see the English duo of Sophie Thornhill and Scott Helen come along and make an even better run of 11.277.
Can’t wait to see how this pans out in the races later today. Don’t discount the Aussies though. They may be keeping juice in reserve.
1
THORNHILL S
ENG
11.277
2
McGLYNN A
SCO
11.419
3
O’CONNOR B
AUS
11.623
4
JOHNSON F
AUS
11.695
ABOUT SOPHIE THORNHILL
Type of Impairment
Visual impairment
Impairment Details
She was born with albinism.
Reason for taking up this sport
She was inspired to take up the sport after watching English cyclist Anthony Kappes compete at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.
Ambitions
To compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (I think we may see a lot of Athletes with this very same ambition)
ABOUT AILEEN MCGLYNN
Type of Impairment
Visual impairment
Impairment Details
She was born partially sighted, as were her two sisters.
Start of sporting career
She began cycling at age five.
Reason for taking up this sport
She was inspired to take up the sport competitively after watching Scottish cyclist Chris Hoy win a gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.
Ambitions
To win a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Most memorable sporting achievement
Winning two gold medals at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.
MOTIVATION
She has extra motivation to win a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, after her funding from the UK Lottery was withdrawn. The organisation had decided that she was not a realistic medal prospect for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro due to her age. “Because I’m 40, they didn’t think I would get gold in Rio, but I feel that I’ve still got time and have still not reached my peak. To be honest, they have probably done me a favour because I’m now training at the venue I’m going to be competing in.”
