Canadian, Nate Reich, takes gold in Tokyo Paralympic Games 1500m

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Nate Riech earned Paralympic gold on Saturday in the 1500m event. His performance made for a dominating win recording a Paralympic record of 3:58.92 in the T38 category.

“I felt like I got too concentrated on winning gold, so my sport psychologist and I came up with; just try to make that 10-year-old me who was paralyzed in a hospital bed proud. That was my goal and I think I did that,” said Riech, who trains in Victoria, BC. 

Riech sat behind race leader France’s Louis Radius, but then put pressure on the field during the second lap scattering the field behind him. He was clearly excited to have won in such a commanding fashion when he celebrated on the track.

Abdelkrim Algkrai took silver in the time of 4:03.07 while Deon Auskenzie earned bronze in the time of 4:03.76.

Fellow Canadian and training partner in Victoria, Liam Stanley, the silver medallist from Rio in the T37 category acquitted himself well with a fifth-place finish clocking a 4:06.95.  

“I executed the race the way I wanted to execute it. I just didn’t have the finish that the guys ahead of me had. I’m proud of the effort I put in and if I wasn’t going to medal, I was going to walk away from here with a record,” said Stanley. “It’s a really big achievement. Next to my world record, it’s the biggest record I’ve broken in my career and to take it off a guy like Michael McKillop – probably the greatest ambulatory runner ever – is something I’m really proud of.” 

Abdelkrim Algkrai took silver in the time of 4:03.07 while Deon Auskenzie earned bronze in the time of 4:03.76.

MEDALS WON ON SEPTEMBER 4

GOLD – Nate Riech, Para Athletics, Men’s T38 1500m

OVERALL MEDAL TOTAL

Gold: 5
Silver: 10
Bronze: 6
Total: 21