By Peter Douglas
MACCLESFIELD paracanoeist Amanda ‘AJ’ Reynolds, 44, has clinched a silver medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
After starting her pet event as the gold medal favourite, it took a personal best from UK rival Cindy Dickens to edge out Reynolds in an epic final in the KL3 Women’s 200m paracanoe.
Reynolds qualified fastest for the 15 September final at the Lagoa Stadium course, notching 53.412s in her heat, which was 0.179s faster than Dickens.
The pair put in a great performance in the final, with Dickens’ scintillating 51.348s edging out Reynolds, who raced home to finish in 51.378s.
The final result was a difference of just 0.03s.
After the race, Reynolds couldn’t hide her disappointment.
“Initially, I was like ‘oops’, but I gave it everything I had, so I’ve got to be proud of that,” she said.
“(Now it’s) just head down and bum up and start training again.”
Reynolds said she was pleased with how she executed her race plan.
“It was really good … I didn’t have slumps at both ends (and) the middle was fantastic,” she said.
“But you just give it everything you’ve got.
“So at the end of it, you’ve just got to be happy with what you’ve done.”
For Reynolds, her road to Rio, her first Paralympics, has been nothing short of incredible.
In 2012, she elected to have her right leg amputated after 20 years of complications from a dislocated knee.
Reynolds said she had become addicted to painkillers, which were being used to manage her pain.
After the surgery, she eventually found a love of paracanoeing while competing in the Murray Marathon Challenge.
Reynolds said it was great to be at Rio among the other paralympians.
“I never thought I’d be here, so the reality of getting here (is what means most) … the rest of it was a bonus, so I’m stoked with whatever I walk away with.”
Reynolds told the ‘Mail’, earlier this year, the green and gold uniform had always been on her mind since finding her way into the sport.
“Making it to Rio was a goal that was set three years ago for me to work towards, to reach that goal is a big box ticked,” she said.
“It is an amazing achievement for the paracanoe to become a sport in the Paralympics and to be among the first to represent Australia in the sport is wonderful.”
But reaching such lofty heights has not come without sacrifice, with Reynolds completing an intense training and competing schedule.
In the lead-up to the Games, she had been training on the Gold Coast, in addition to regular competition both interstate and internationally.
Reynolds said she couldn’t wait to spend some time with her husband, Wayne, and her two sons, Broc and Tyler.
“The support behind me has just been immense,” she said.
“It’s been a team effort; it’s not just about me, it’s about the group around us.
“I think the boys will be happy to have Mum home for a little bit.”
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