SaqBy Megan Armitage in Paris
Eden Rainbow-Cooper only found out two days ago that she would be competing in the 5000m heats but produced a gutsy performance to qualify for her first Paralympic final in Paris.
The 23-year-old from Portsmouth was entered in the women’s T54 5000m in the French capital, a race which was originally scheduled to be a straight final but was on the start line on the opening day of the athletics competition after a change of plans.
And with a fifth place and a few risky laps later, Rainbow-Cooper booked his place in what promises to be a thrilling finale at the Stade de France.
“Originally the plan was for there to be just a 5km final and we only found out two days ago that there would be a heat,” she said, who is one of more than 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s World Class programme, funded by the National Lottery, which gives them full-time training, access to the world’s best coaches and pioneering medical support – which has been vital on their path to the Paris 2024 Games.
“It was like one athlete found out the truth and word of mouth spread among us all. It wasn’t the most relaxing way to approach my first Paralympic race, but I managed to do it and I’m really glad I got out on the track and got a feel for what it was like before tomorrow’s final.”
“I will absolutely send it for $5,000.”
Rainbow-Cooper typically favours longer distance events, having won the Boston Marathon earlier this year and set to take to the roads of Paris in the event later in the racing calendar.
And with his Paralympic debut on the 5,000m track, it was an opportunity to gain vital experience against some of the world’s best while pushing himself in daring tactics.
“All the girls in this heat, except Suzanna who is the world record holder, were very close in terms of times, so we knew it was going to be a very tough race,” she said.
“I don’t have the same acceleration at the end as some of the other girls so I had a bold tactic to go hard for a few laps and see if a gap opened up, which it didn’t, and then they all passed me.
“It took enough energy from the girls to give me a better chance, so I’m pretty happy with how I executed it.
“The track is not my main event and I am trying to improve.
“Every race I take part in, especially against incredibly fast athletes, is huge for me and I get a lot of experience from it.
“But I feel good, the 5km final is tomorrow and we’ll see what happens with that and looking ahead to the marathon.”
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