NYOSHIA CAIN captured Trinidad and Tobago’s third, and last, medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last evening.
The 21-year-old, competing in the women’s T43/T44 100-metre final, faced the starter in lane nine and, despite a slight hamstring injury, set a personal best time of 13.10 seconds.
Marlou van Rhijn of the Netherlands was victorious in 13.02 while Irmgard Bensusan of Germany got the silver medal in 13.04.
On September 9, Akeem Stewart won TT’s lone gold at the Paralympic Games with a world record effort in the men’s javelin F44 while, on Friday, he got silver in the men’s discus throw F44 event.
During the first round yesterday morning, Cain finished second in heat two of Round One, in a season’s best time of 13.32. That race was won by van Rhijn who stopped the clock in 13.31. The top two in each of the three heats advanced to the final automatically.
Laura Sugar of Great Britain inched into the final after clocking 13.59 to finish third in heat two.
Qualifying from heat one were Bensusan (13.08) and Marlene van Gansewinkel of Netherlands (13.38). Sophie Kamlish of Great Britain won heat three and broke the world record with a time of 12.93, while Marie-Amelie le Fur of France finished second in 13.27 and Saki Takakuwa of Japan was third in 13.43 to seal spots in the final.
TT Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis was high in praise of Cain for her accomplishment yesterday.
“She showed tremendous heart and courage to overcome some challenges and adversity,” said Lewis, during a telephone interview.
“She was able to dig deep and put aside whatever little niggles she may have been feeling.
It’s a tremendous effort. She did a personal best and that’s all you can ask for.” This accomplishment was even sweeter for Cain, as she was disqualified from the women’s 200m T44 heats on Wednesday.
Asked if that setback, as well as her hamstring injury, were the setbacks he was referring to, Lewis replied, “she had a little tightness in her hamstring but that’s what you have to do at this level. You have to be able to put (that) aside and show that indomitable will and determination, if you want to get a medal.” The Paralympic Games is expected to conclude today.