Payton savours his sweet success

Published on Tuesday 28 September 2004 11:56

EIGHT YEARS ago Stephen Payton returned from Atlanta with three golds medals.

Last night the Fife sprinter claimed 400m bronze - and the success tasted just as sweet.

The West Lothian star was beginning to fear he’d leave Athens without adding to his tally of eight Paralympic medals. But he produced a season’s best of 52.32secs in his third and final event to earn a place on the podium behind Australian Tim Sullivan and South Africa’s Malcolm Pringle.

"I’m just so relieved," he admitted. "I so badly wanted a medal but the standards have improved so much since Sydney and I was just hoping I’d keep up. The improvement in times has been phenomenal. I’ve worked so hard to stay with them and I’ve just about managed it.

"It’s been a strange Games but considering I could barely jog six months ago I can’t moan about the results."

The 27-year old sports science student admits continuing to Beijing might be one mission too far.

"That’s a very long time away," he added. "I’m not thinking any further than the next two years. There is no point continuing if you are not competitive."

Broxburn-based swimmer Jim Anderson might be 14 years older than Payton but no-one can argue he’s not competitive.

The 41-year old, who suffers from cerebral palsy, comfortably eclipsed American favourite Curtis Lovejoy in last night’s 50m backstroke final.

Lovejoy had snatched his world record during the morning heats but ran out of steam in a closely fought final. He finished back in fifth as Anderson stormed to gold in 1.05.51.

Poland’s Miroslaw Piesak took the silver while home favourite Georgios Kapellakis claimed the bronze.

"I was really worried about Curtis after his swim and I was quite annoyed that he took my world record," said Anderson. "I was hoping that I would beat him in the final and I have done. I’ve won a lot over here but I never imagined I could win four golds."

Meanwhile, age never seems to weary Tanni Grey Thompson. The Welsh wheelchair racer became Britain’s most successful Paralympian of all time yesterday when she won her second gold of the Games in the 400m. It was Grey Thompson’s 11th Paralympic gold - and her 16th medal - in a career that stretches back to the Seoul Games 16 years ago.