39-year-old Yuki Oya who won the silver medal in the Tokyo Para-Athletics 100-meter wheelchair class for men on land.

The silver medal won in the Paralympic Games for the first time became a tear medal dedicated to the deceased mother who gave me the opportunity to start athletics.

100-meter wheelchair class, final.

The name was called at the announcement in the national stadium, and the mouth of Oya who appeared was tightened to Shinichi.

I had a special feeling for this final.



At the age of 16, Oya fell into a wheelchair while working to demolish a building and injured his spinal cord.

16 years ago, knowing the family budget that was never wealthy, I asked my mother Yoko to buy a wheelchair for competition.



He was ranked last in the national sports competition for the disabled in a wheelchair for everyday use, and responded to his unyielding desire to win next time.

Yoko passed away 10 years ago.

Before that, I promised to win a gold medal at the Paralympics.



And the final of the Tokyo Paralympics.

In the lane next to it was Raymond Martin, a world record player from the United States.

It is an opponent who has to overcome in order to win a gold medal after losing in the adult world championship.



Oya leads the start.

Weighing in the 40-kilometer range, he has suppressed Martin, who is good at starting dash.

However, 30 meters from the finish, he was so conscious of Martin's catching up that he meandered to the left and right.

Allowed a reversal and became a silver medal.

Immediately after crossing the finish line, Oya's facial expression was distorted with regret. The reason listen to and over



"mother made me a chance to start a wheelchair land. His death before, so promised to" take the gold medal ", it came out mortifying feelings different color of the medal"



fight back the full of tears I couldn't. Even so, I held the silver medal I won in my first appearance many times in front of my chest.



"I think I was able to get this result by practicing with my brother on a three-legged race since my mother died. I want to tell you,'



I

took it!'"

Oya has worked hard enough to update his personal best three times in order to fulfill his promise. The tears looked brighter than the gold medal.