Rachel battles to an unlikely bronze medal (From Western Telegraph)

Rachel battles to an unlikely bronze medal

6:00pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Sport

Rachel Morris completed a remarkable recovery on Friday when she claimed a bronze medal in the Women’s Individual H1-3 Road Race.

The 33-year-old, who has reflex sympathetic dystrophy, suffered a dislocated shoulder after colliding with a car in training just weeks before the games.

After the incident Rachel, who has family in Milford Haven and is a regular visitor to the area, dismissed any chances of her leaving London 2012 with a medal.

But after finishing fifth in her time trial event on Wednesday, she showed incredible determination to take bronze in the road race.

She competed for most of the race side by side with team mate Karen Darke, and in an elaborate attempt to share the medal, the pair held hands over the finishing line.

Indeed, both hand cyclists were awarded a time of 1:43.08, but after close analysis of the photo finish Rachel was awarded the bronze.

"We wanted it together,”

said Rachel, immediately after the race.

“We crossed the line with our hands together. So hopefully we'll get a medal each, that's the plan.”

“We worked so hard together.”

Despite being awarded bronze, Rachel posed for pictures with her teammate, with both holding the medal.

Team director Chris Furber admitted he was not aware of any plan for the pair to share a medal, but added: "They both rode out of their skins and we're just as proud of them.”

But sadly, there was no fairytale ending in the Boccia BC3 Mixed Individual event for Jacob Thomas.

The 17-year-old from Bethesda won his opening match 8-1 against Veronica Pamies Morear of Spain.

But unfortunately, he was given a tough draw in the last 16 when he again had to face top seed Grigorios Polychronidis of Greece last Thursday.

Jacob battled hard but Grigorios showed his experience to come through 5-1.