Newyddion
Aled Davies wins a silver medal at the Paralympic Games in the F63 shot put
09/09/2024 00:00, I Mewn Blog /
Aled Davies completed the set of Paralympic medals when he won silver in the F63 shot put in Paris on Saturday night.
The legendary Welsh thrower had previously won shot put bronze at London 2012 along with discus gold, before going on to win shot put golds at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021.
One of Wales’ greatest athletes, Davies went into the final night of competition at the Stade de France with his eyes set on climbing to the top step of the podium once again.
And although the medal wasn’t the colour he wanted, coming away with silver was still an impressive achievement considering the advancement of his rivals in the category in recent years combined with the painful hip injury he has been carefully managing for the past two years.
Davies has been delaying surgery in order to compete at May’s World Championships in Kobe, where he won his ninth gold medal, and these Paralympic Games in Paris.
The Birmingham Commonwealth Games discus champion didn’t look entirely comfortable as he posted two distances of 14.32m in the first two rounds. That saw him sitting in fourth place with Kuwait’s Faisal Sorour leading with a season’s best second round effort of 15.01m.
But then the man from Bridgend exploded into life, letting out a huge roar as he launched his third round effort out to 15.10m to put himself into the lead.
Sourour hit back in the fourth round to re-take pole position as he extended his season’s best to 15.31m.
Davies tried to respond, but his fourth round effort was no further than his previous efforts so he stepped out of the circle to register a no throw before going to the apron of the track to consult with long-time coach Ryan Spencer-Jones.
However, they were unable to find a way to overhaul Sourour in the final two rounds and Davies had to settle for the silver medal after his run of three golds at the games.
The clearly disappointed proud Welshman was consoled by his team after his final throw, but afterwards spoke about the competition.
I am trying to look at the positives, but I am not really a silver kind of guy. Losing is part and parcel of this. I have been lucky to be dominating this for so long. I don't mind losing, I really don't, but I don't like underperforming. I wasn't the better man. I warmed up so well and threw some huge throws, but I am gutted. I have worked so hard, there have been so many obstacles, and there are no excuses. I'll be back.
I went over to Ryan my coach after the third throw, and I was trying to drill into my mind what not to do. I haven't competed much this year and it is showing. I don't know what else to say, it wasn't my night.
My event is moving on. There are six athletes over the old world record, that was the record when I started and now there are six guys over it. It's great but it is upsetting that I am not at the forefront of it tonight. It doesn't do justice for where I am at.
If I take my personal perspective out of it, the crowds were incredible. It is basically a full house for para athletics tonight.