Gold medal at Paralympic Games in Paris proves that years of dedication was worthwhile for Strathpeffer’s champion cyclist Fin Graham
Strathpeffer’s Paralympic champion Fin Graham says his Paris experience is still sinking in.
The 24-year-old had already won silver on the track before lining up for the road race last weekend, but in a sprint finish he crossed the line first to win his first Paralympic gold medal.
He can now add the biggest accolade in the sport to his numerous world championships, and after returning to the UK he admits the last month feels like a whirlwind.
“It’s still a bit of a blur – I’m not quite sure what day it is, but I’m still on cloud nine,” Graham said.
“When I got home after all the travelling I just sat in the kitchen for about an hour without moving, I didn’t really know what was happening even then. It was all just a whirlwind of emotion, and the month previous all just caught up with me. I don’t know how to describe it.
“I’ve still not quite come to terms with being a Paralympic champion. I’m still a bit speechless to be honest.
“All the hard work and dedication over the years and months leading up to it has been worthwhile.
“After I crossed the line, my teammates were the first ones that I saw but then I saw my mum and dad, and my schoolmates, and I just had to hold it together and try not to cry.
“Unfortunately my brother wasn’t able to be out there, but I was on the phone to him afterwards and he was watching.
“It was emotional, but it was so nice having my mum and dad out there. That made it that extra bit special, and even people who weren’t out there were messaging me so I’ve so much support.”
While Graham’s first Paralympic gold medal, it was not his first Paralympic outing. He had previously competed in Tokyo three years ago, but with that event still being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic Paris proved to be a completely different atmosphere.
“In Tokyo we weren’t able to spend time with friends and family, but this time I was able to race and hear familiar voices shouting which gave me an extra boost to go a bit harder and dig a little bit deeper during the races,” Graham explained.
“It was so special to be able to experience that, and we had full velodromes which we didn’t have in Tokyo so it was a bit crazy.
“In Tokyo, we didn’t get to spend any time in the athletes’ village either, and that’s something that we got to do in Paris. That was a bit overwhelming too.
“For the track events we were staying in a hotel outside of Paris, but the first time we went into the village and I walked into the food hall there was so many athletes from so many different nations.
“There were little things like a Chinese swimmer who has no arms, and he was eating with his feet – his fork was in his toes – so obviously people overcoming stuff like that is even a challenge, and then they go and race.
“That’s what the Paralympics is about, seeing stuff like that.”
While Graham may love to bask in the glory of his achievement, there is no rest for the weary as he quickly has to turn around and prepare for the World Championships in Zurich, starting on September 21.
There he will be defending the champions’ rainbow jersey, and now going in as a Paralympic champion, but the former Dingwall Academy pupil is not thinking too far ahead just yet.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s hard to find the motivation to get back on the bike,” he admitted.
“I’m hoping that once I do I can get back into the swing of things again, but at the minute I’m just living off the high of the Games and the gold medal. After the World Championships I will be able to properly celebrate the past couple of years.
“It’s the rainbow jersey, and you want to win that. I’m going in as defending champion and I’m competitive, but the Paralympic Games is the biggest event that we’ve got every four years, and I won the road race which is what I really targeted for this year.
“I still want to win the World Championships, I just haven’t got into that mindset yet because I’m still trying to process what’s happened in Paris.
“I’m going in now as defending champion and Paralympic champion, so I will be wanting to do the best I can but I’m also going in just wanting to enjoy it.”
