Silver Medallist Amanda McGrory
Woods fourth in wheelchair marathonShelly Woods just missed out on a third medal at the Paralympic Games today when she finished fourth in the women’s T54 marathon, while David Weir decided enough was enough after four Beijing medals and did not start the men’s race.
Woods, who won bronze in the 5000m and silver at 1500m, entered the noisy Bird’s Nest stadium in touch with the leaders but couldn’t make up the ground over the last lap.
She said: “I did my best. I raced hard but the competition was very tough.
“They just had more speed at the finish. In the last 2km the pace just went, it hotted up. I was trying to move up on the last lap in the stadium, but it was a great race.”
Woods finished in 1:40:03, just four seconds behind Switzerland’s Edith Hunkeler who took the gold.
“Every credit to Edith,” said Woods. “She pushed a great race. Coming into the stadium here is really amazing. To finish in the Birds’ Nest is just brilliant. It ended a great week.
“To win two medals at my first Paralympic Games is fantastic. Now my ambition for London is to win a gold. In the next few years I hope to get stronger and faster. I’m definitely going to work my ass off.”
