Another new experience she got to cross off her bucket list on day 2 of track and field at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 was winning her first Paralympic medal. Saturday’s event marks Scaroni’s third Games and first time atop the podium.
The 30-year-old from Illinois bested the current Games champion, teammate — and six-time Paralympian — Tatyana McFadden, with a new personal best time of 10:52.57 in the women’s 5000m T54. It was also a new Paralympic record, topping McFadden’s time from Rio, which was 11:47.37.
Competing in the marathon in Rio and London and finishing off the podium, a top place finish made Scaroni’s gold medal even sweeter.
“I feel so blessed,” she said after catching her breath. “My strength is going as hard as I can for a long time. That never happens at the Paralympics, and I have no experience doing anything else.”
Scaroni set off across the line Saturday morning, putting her competition in her rearview with seven laps to go — never conceding the lead.
“I looked back, and nobody was there. With seven laps to go, it was a huge risk,” she said, “but I knew my strength, and I took that risk.”
Team USA
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