Tokyo Paralympics 2021 - Tully Kearney misses out on gold to Zhang Li at the death in dramatic women's 200m freestyle
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Published 25/08/2021 at 12:21 GMT
Following a devastating final sprint, Zhang completed an incredible comeback and upset to pip the World Champion to the wall in a time of 2:46.53. Kearney's 2:46.65 was a personal best, but not enough to stop the Chinese swimmer from defending her title. Italy's Monica Boggioni took bronze, beating Team GB's Suzanna Hext to the podium by one place.
Tully Kearney of Great Britain competing in the Women's S5 200 metre freestyle at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre on day one during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Image credit: Getty Images
Tully Kearney saw Paralympic gold snatched away from her at the final stroke in a dramatic S5 200 metres freestyle final in Tokyo.
The seven-time World Champion looked set to take victory on her Paralympics debut, before a stunning late surge from Zhang Li saw the Chinese swimmer beat the Brit to the wall at the death.
Zhang had been way off with 100m to go with Kearney leading from the outset, but tore through the closing 50m to pip the favourite by 0.12 seconds and win in a time of 2:46.63.
Despite setting a new personal best, Kearney could not prevent Zhang from defending the title in Rio five years ago.
The 24-year-old Brit missed out on the chance to contest the Chinese swimmer in 2016 after injury forced her to pull out just weeks before the Games.
“I’m a bit speechless at the moment,” Kearney told Channel 4.
There were question marks over whether I’d ever get to a Paralympic Games, so the fact that I’ve been able to race and win a medal is crazy. After [missing out on] Rio, I thought the Paralympics weren’t going to be possible for me. It’s all down to my amazing team and their support that I’m here - I just swam.
“I’ve not had that much training, I’ve had injuries and things, so for me I think to get here... I was nervous that my finish wouldn’t have been good enough to do the 200m, so to get a PB is just pretty impressive.”
Monica Boggioni took the final podium spot, leaving Kearney’s teammate Suzanna Hext one place outside a medal in more heartbreak for Team GB.
There was joy earlier in the pool however, as 18-year-old Toni Shaw put in an excellent performance on her Paralympic debut to take bronze in the S9 400m freestyle.
Fellow debutant Reece Dunn narrowly missed out on gold in the 100m butterfly event, pipped to victory by Brazil’s Gabriel Bandeira.
The velodrome was undoubtedly the venue of the day for the Brits however, as Sarah Storey flew to a 15th Paralympic title in the C5 3000m individual pursuit.
Breaking her own world record in the process, Storey topped the podium ahead of teammate Crystal Lane-Wright in second.
Steve Bate and Adam Duggleby followed up the female pair’s success with a medal of their own, taking silver in the men’s B 4000m individual pursuit.
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