PARALYMPICS / Newsmakers

Petitclerc joins Fab Five Club
By Lei Lei
China Daily/The Paralympian Staff Writer
Updated: 2008-09-17 10:24

 

Canadian Chantal Petitclerc emulated her Athens glory by winning her fifth gold, in the women's T54 1,500m Tuesday, at the Beijing Paralympics.

"I'm more satisfied than I thought I would be winning those five gold medals, because it was more challenging than I thought," said Petitclerc, who claimed gold in all five races she contested, ranging from 100m to 1,500m.

Canada's Chantal Petitclerc celebrates as she crosses the finish line during the athletics 1,500m T54 final. [Agencies]

"I won each of the gold in different conditions. I'm just very happy that I was able to cope with each of these conditions under pressure and enjoy it. I really had a very good time."

Her fifth win marked a perfect meet for the woman who has won 21 Paralympic medals, including 14 gold.

"I came back after Athens knowing that if I wanted to make it, there would be pressure," she said.

"I'm most proud that I was able to be really aggressive on the track and have fun in the Village the next day and then came back and really focus again."

With just five more gold medals up for grabs, China has secured its place at the top of the athletics tally with a total of 37 gold, 21 silver and 18 bronze medals.

China's Wang Fang concluded her second Paralympics with two gold medals after winning the women's 100m T36 in heavy rain.

"Today, I was a little affected by the rain when I was warming up," said Wang.

"I was nervous because I was afraid of the slippery track. I didn't expect to break the world record. I'm really excited."

China's relay teams also excelled with the men's 4x100m team winning the T11-13 class and the women taking the T53/54.

Morocco's Sanaa Benhama joined South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius as a triple track gold medalist in Beijing when she claimed gold in the women's T13 100m in equal world record time.

"It's my first Paralympics and I'm really happy to get so many gold medals," said Benhama.

Athletics will conclude today with just five gold medals in marathon events on offer.

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