Queen Congratulates ‘Inspirational’ Paralympic Competitors and Says Their Performances Has ‘Lifted The Nation’
The Queen has congratulated Paralympic competitors from the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. She praised their “inspirational” dedication and commitment, saying their performances have “lifted the nation.”
Her statement came after the United Kingdom maintained second-place with 124 medals, including 41 gold, 38 silver, and 45 bronze.
The Queen said in a statement: “I offer my warm congratulations to Paralympic athletes from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and indeed to the athletes of all Commonwealth countries, on their enormous success at the Tokyo Games.
“The commitment, dedication, and adaptability showed by you, and your support teams, during the exceptional circumstances of the last 18 months, have been inspirational.
“Your performances have lifted the nation and your triumphs have been celebrated by us all“.
“I send my very best wishes to all those who have contributed to the success of these memorable Games.”
On Sunday, Boccia champion David Smith led the handful of British athletes still in Tokyo for the closing ceremony.
Sprinter Thomas Young, cyclist Benjamin Watson, and swimmers Maisie Summers-Newton and Reece Dunn were among the emerging talent to burst onto the scene to take gold, with 56 British debutantes claiming medals.
Notable among them was the 19-year-old Maisie Summers-Newton who achieved a world record and gold medal of her own in the 200m individual medley, ending team-mate Ellie Simmonds’ nine-year reign. Also Thomas Young stunned the world on the track with a gold medal, becoming the first British 100m Paralympic champion.
Out of the 124 British medals won at Tokyo 2020, 41 were gold, 38 silver, and the remaining 45 were bronze medals.
China ran away with the top spot, winning 96 gold medals and 207 overall, whilst the United States finished third behind GB with a total of 104 medals.
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