Thursday 6 September 2012

Fenland's proud of heroic Peacock

Setting the benchmark: Oscar Pistorious [left]
and Jonnie Peacock
                    paralympic.org
Some thought it could be Oscar night, but it was Fenland's Jonnie Peacock who grabbed centre stage and turned the spectacle into the Brit Awards.
The teenager produced a blistering run to overshadow South Africa's legendary Blade Runner and win the Paralympic 100m. In doing so, he consolidated his position as the fastest amputee in the world.
Roared on by 80,000 spectators amid an electric atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium, the 19-year-old from the village of Doddington, led from the start to set a Paralympic record of 10.9 in the T44 event. His great hero and rival, Oscar Pistorious, who trailed in fourth, was the first the congratulate the Brit and shower him with genuine compliments in a TV interview seconds after crossing the line.
The Peacock story is well-known in these parts, having been documented by local newspapers and television since the heroic lad was a five-year-old who had his lower right leg amputated after contracting meningoccal septicaemia. Did that prevent him from leading a full and active life? Of course not. And the poster boy of the Paralympics, who is also the world record-holder, answered that question in emphatic fashion with a gold medal.
His understandable delight in victory was summed up when he said: "It's absolutely surreal ... to be part of these Games is amazing."
No, Jonnie, you're amazing. And furthermore, the whole of Fenland is very proud of you.
The only downside is that he's a Liverpool fan. Hey, you can't win them all Jonnie. His grandad played for Everton and Liverpool, so I suppose he is excused for such poor taste in football clubs.
And I can't wait to see the village post box painted in a gold colour to honour Jonnie. So much more classy than Liverpool red, I'm sure you'll agree.
PS: Follow me on Twitter - Fenman@harrysrus
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XIV Paralympic Games
XIV Paralympic Games
Wikipedia

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