Rachel cycles to Olympic gold

8:40am Saturday 20th September 2008

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An “ecstatic” Milford Haven paralympian is heading home from Beijing this week with a gold medal.

“It’s a cliché, but it’s a dream come true – I didn’t realise that it would feel so good,” said 29-year-old Rachel Morris, who took first place in last Friday’s road time-trial.

“It took 20 minutes for the results to come out; 20 minutes of stewing, waiting for factoring. I didn’t think I had put in a good enough time so I was ecstatic.”

Paralympic gold medal winner, Rachel Morris

“It took 20 minutes for the results to come out; 20 minutes of stewing, waiting for factoring. I didn’t think I had put in a good enough time so I was ecstatic.”

Rachel became disabled after a tobogganing accident on a dry ski slope.

She was a keen athlete and netball player before, and always dreamed of getting to the Olympics, but says her world was “turned upside down and shattered” after the accident.

She added: “It was a case of rebuilding and refocusing. I’m quite a strong person and it was a case of getting my life back.”

Rachel, who has strong family ties with Milford and trains and lives in Surrey, took up sailing and wheelchair basketball — becoming hugely successful at both – before she got into handcycling only two-and-a-half-years ago, because of her strength, fitness and love of a challenge.

She was spotted as a potential 2012 contender when, after just six months of training, she had put in so many miles, she had virtually worn down her hand-cycle.

Going into the Paralympics, Rachel was touted as a potential gold medallist, but didn’t believe she was a favourite, and just tried to put her training into practice.

“It’s just a matter of ignoring everyone else and doing what you’ve trained to do,” she said.

“Other people are trying to psyche you out and play mind games by making eye contact, sitting really close to you, making comments. I just keep to myself generally and get on with my own routine.

“I’m coming home on the 18th and I’m really looking forward to getting back. The job’s done, and it’s done well.”