Marathon gold brings perfect ending to Tokyo campaign

Standout stars of the Tokyo Paralympics, Madison de Rozario and Jaryd Clifford have capped off a sensational campaign, with de Rozario becoming the first Australian woman to win a Paralympic marathon, and Clifford claiming silver in his second ever 42km race.

Madison de Rozario’s triumph will see her bring home two gold and one bronze medal from her fourth Games, after she crossed the finish line in emphatic fashion at Japan National Stadium. The racing supremo grabbed the gold in 1:38.11 – just centimeters in front of marathon legend Manuella Shaer of Switzerland (1:38.12).

The protégé of Australian Paralympic legend Louise Sauvage, de Rozario presented herself as a medal contender early into the event, hovering in the top 5 from the outset but clinched the win and a Paralympic record by leading the field only in the final 4km of the race.

Earlier in the week, Sauvage did a recce of the course and imparted words of wisdom that helped the 27-year-old make history. She told her that whoever was fastest to climb the final hill of the course, would win the race.

It was a battle between de Rozario and Schaer on the hill, but it was the Australian that entered the stadium first for the final lap around the track. De Rozario used every bit of strength left in her body to sprint for the win.

“It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done. I don’t know if I can explain it. I didn’t expect this going in. I knew it was a flat course, but last time I raced in Tokyo, I didn’t finish the race here at all, so it’s a different story,” de Rozario said.

“Susannah (Sarconi from the USA) took off from the very beginning of the race, so we thought we were all fighting for minor medals. And that last four kilometres, there was that hill that I was absolutely dreading. I’m so glad it was Manuella and I at the end of the race. She took the lead so much and then I took over so I could not be happier with that.”

Completing a hat-trick of podium finishes and his second ever marathon, Jaryd Clifford (Philo Saunders) claimed silver in 2:26.09.  Guided by Vincent Donnadieu and long time friend and training partner Tim Logan, Clifford put everything into his final race in Tokyo – collapsing and retching as he crossed the finish line, proving his dedication to his craft.

The 22-year-old, who now owns two silver and one bronze medal from Tokyo, stayed in medal position at each split. By the 10km mark, defending champion, Moroccan El Amin Chentouf emerged as a clear leader and widened the gap throughout the course to the point where Clifford had no choice but to race for silver.

In the rainy conditions, Clifford’s choice to run with sighted guides was beneficial, with Donnadieu and Logan taking him through corners and turns that he would not have otherwise been able to see.

In a shattering ending to his Tokyo campaign, T46 world record holder Michael Roeger (Philo Saunders) completed the marathon in 2:34.45 to place sixth. With a perfect win-streak at every marathon he has so far contested, Roeger was the clear favourite for gold in the lead up to the Games, but unfortunately for the South Australian runner, injury struck once again - a theme that has plagued Roeger at nearly each of his four Paralympic Games.  A stress fracture in his leg hindered the 33-year-old's preparations for the past six weeks, but he was determined to finish his only event at the Tokyo Paralympics. While he was significantly off the podium, he was the race leader for the majority of the race, only coming unstuck at the 30km mark.

Christie Dawes (Andrew Dawes) did what no other Australian track athlete has done before her, in completing her seventh Paralympic Games and the Tokyo marathon T54 in eighth (1:46.44) , while compatriot Eliza Ault-Connell (Fred Periac) finished in 13^th place in 1:52.26.

“We were a couple of minutes behind and I saw them go off and I tried hard to chase them but I couldn’t. You don’t know until you come in (to the stadium) who does what, so it was awesome to hear the news about Madi,” Dawes said.

“I never want to stop racing. I think this has been one of the best of them all. I’m trying not to be a blubbering idiot, but with Corona and home schooling and lockdown, this is a bloody cakewalk. A marathon in the rain is quite nice!

“Dawesy (husband and coach Andrew Dawes) made a really big sacrifice not to come here to coach his athletes, some of them at their first Paralympics. He stayed home with the kids so I could do this. I’m really grateful to him and really grateful to be here for that.”

The Australian Para-athletics Team has finished the Tokyo Paralympics with 19 medals, including four gold, seven silver and eight bronze medals.  

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 5/9/2021