BBC SPORT | PARALYMPICS | Golden Tanni to call time

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Friday, 27 October, 2000, 10:01 GMT 11:01 UK

Golden Tanni to call time

Sydney might be the last Paralympics for Tanni Grey-Thompson

Tanni Grey-Thompson destroyed her field to land the T53 classification of the women's 400 metres and gain her fourth gold medal of the games - and hinted at Paralympic retirement.

Grey-Thompson won in a time of 58.74secs with Sweden's Madeleine Nordlund back in second.

"I am not making any predictions, but I think this will be my last Paralympics," she said.

"I am focusing on the Commonwealth Games of 2002 as I do not get the chance to compete for Wales very often," she added.

It is not always the person who pushes the quickest who wins, it is the person who deals with everything else around them
Tanni Grey-Thompson

Grey-Thompson also admitted she was slightly surprised by her success in Sydney.

"I knew I was fast, but did not really think I was that quick.

"But my coach said it is not always the person who pushes the quickest who wins, it is the person who deals with everything else around them," she explained.

Vomited

"It has been difficult towards the end to focus on the last race, but I really want four gold medals," she said.

Grey-Thompson revealed earlier in the week that she often vomited because of nervousness before races and things do not appear to have changed, even with three gold medals around her neck.

"I am calm now, but a few hours before the race I do not think I will be as happy," she laughed.

Related to this story:
Tanni races to second gold (22 Oct 00 | Paralympics)
Passion at the Paralympics (26 Oct 00 | Paralympics)
Welsh student swims to gold (25 Oct 00 | Paralympics)
Tanni captures third gold (24 Oct 00 | Paralympics)
Paralympics day ten - in pictures (27 Oct 00 | Photo Galleries)