GB wheelchair sprinter Samantha Kinghorn wins T53 bronze at World Para Championships
By Mark Ashenden
Last Updated: 08/11/19 8:44pm
British wheelchair sprinter and Sky Scholar Samantha Kinghorn battled to bronze in the T53 100m at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai on Friday.
It was Great Britain's second medal of the Championships following Paul Blake's stunning gold on the opening night in the T36 800m.
There had been high hopes for Sky Scholar Kinghorn repeating her success from London in 2017 after easing into the final with a season's best 16.39 seconds.
Two years after her golden double in the T53 100m and 200m at the London World Championships, Kinghorn was pipped to silver by China's Zhou Hongzhuan as compatriot Gao Fang produced a late burst to storm home for gold.
Kinghorn chose only to race the shorter sprint in Dubai after surgery in the summer left her out of action for seven weeks.
"I can't believe that I'm picking up bronze after this year," Kinghorn said.
"I really didn't expect it but I've been working so hard and I know I can be even faster for next year."
"It gives me so much confidence for next year and now I'm just powering down for the Tokyo Olympics," she told British Athletics.
"I got a better start than last night (in the heat) and I slipped a few times. I panicked but I know there are things I can work on.
"I've got a World medal though and I know I can do better and get faster. I was thinking top five coming here so just getting on that podium is amazing and hopefully I can fight for a higher medal in Tokyo."
