SaqBy Tom Harle in Paris
You won’t see Portsmouth’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper complaining about being tipped for a Paralympic medal.
Many athletes in Paris are ignoring the rumors of medal hopes, but not Rainbow-Cooper, a 23-year-old wheelchair racer at the top of her game.
Her victory in the Boston Marathon in April and her second place in Tokyo in March have established her as a leading contender for the marathon, which will take place on the streets of the French capital.
“Boston and Tokyo were big events for me. They’re both really important races,” said Rainbow-Cooper, who is part of Aldi’s Nearest and Dearest programme in partnership with Team GB, helping to maximise support and minimise potential distractions for athletes so they can focus on their performances.
“But the Paralympic marathon is very different. No one has ever done this course before, so we will all be on an equal footing. This is the first and only time we will have the opportunity to do it.
“There are five, six, seven girls on the field who can all win. And there are so many giants that it’s really hard to predict.
“I think it’s only recently that I’ve realised that I’m one of the favourites, alongside these big names. I’m very happy to be in this position.”
The marathon course will cross nine Parisian communes and promises to be fast, passing iconic landmarks such as Montmartre and the Champs-Élysées.
Rainbow-Cooper started out as a sprinter but fell ill during the Covid pandemic.
Building on her sporting success, she ran her first marathon in May 2022. Her breakthrough moment came with silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, a stunning performance that earned her a place on the National Lottery’s coveted World Class programme.
“After that, I thought, ‘I think I’m over this now,’” Rainbow-Cooper recalls.
“I then fell in love with marathons and now I love running them and being part of such an amazing group of people.
“I’m one of the youngest people doing this marathon right now. But the more I do it, the more I fall in love with it.
“It’s the marathon that left the biggest mark on me and I’m very grateful for it.”
Rainbow-Cooper was initially inspired by wheelchair racing legend David Weir winning gold in London in 2012.
They are now teammates, with the “Weirwolf” still in the race and also aiming for a marathon medal.
“Watching Dave do what he does is so inspiring, especially the success he’s had in the last year,” Rainbow-Cooper said.
“Every time I watch him run I feel like I’m an 11-year-old girl again watching him in London in 2012.
“He’s a giant in our sport, so I feel blessed to have spent this time with him (as a coach).
“I always dreamed of being on the same Paralympic team as him, but I never really knew if it would happen, if I would make it in time while he is still competing. So to be here at my first Paralympic Games with him… it’s really, really special.”
Aldi is proud to be the Official Partner of Team GB and ParalympicsGB, supporting all athletes through to Paris 2024.
Saq
