The final of the women’s T54 class of track curling will be contested on Wednesday evening.
13:12•Updated 13:25
Track winder Amanda Kotaja secured a place in the women’s 100m track and field final in the T54 category at the Paris Paralympics.
Kotaja finished second in his heat with a time of 16:00 and thus grabbed a direct continuation spot.
Kotaja’s competition day also contained extra excitement.
– I noticed just as we were entering the stadium that I have a flat front tire. So I just rolled with an empty front tire, Kotaja revealed after the race.
– I just tried to calm myself at the starting line, that it’s only the front tire, and now just confidently and calmly to the finish line intact.
The heat in Paris was the first time in his career that he had to race with a flat front tire. Because of that, he wasn’t sure how it would affect the rewind.
The setback did not discourage the athlete, who was going to head next to fill the tire.
– My body feels good, and it’s wonderful to be here finally. It’s good that all such small troubles and mistakes come to the beginning of the day, and in the evening you can go all out.
The final is scheduled for Wednesday at 21:43 Finnish time.