Scott Meenagh insists he still has more to give despite soaring to a ‘special’ career-best sixth-place finish at the Paralympic Games.
The sitting Nordic skiing star, 32, delivered a stunning performance in Friday’s 12.5km biathlon to finish three minutes away from a medal and improve on his pair of ninth-places earlier this week.
Meenagh, from Cumbernauld, had been targeting a top six finish ahead of the Games after becoming the first Nordic skier to represent ParalympicsGB for two decades in PyeongChang four years ago.
He says his fabulous Friday antics are cause for celebration but admits he’s still got more in the locker ahead of Milan-Cortina 2026.
GREAT SCOTT 🙌
— ParalympicsGB (@ParalympicsGB) March 11, 2022
It’s a career best 6th place in the Biathlon Individual Sitting for @SMeenagh!
Get in there 👊#WinterParalympics #ParaNordic pic.twitter.com/oSlH6Fu6XY
Asked if he can scale even greater heights heading into the next Games cycle, Meenagh said: “100 per cent - I know that it’s there.
“It’s within my reach and I’m not going to stop until I get it.
“I’m happy with that today – it felt nice and smooth and calm, I shot really smoothly and put myself in a really nice position.
“It’s great, but I’m a bit disappointed to not be clean on the shooting and be one shot away from potentially a medal.
“But to be in that top six, that was my Games goal. If you’re in the top six, it’s an open field and anything can happen.
“To miss one shot and still be in the top six – I’m really happy with that.”
The bonkers biathlon events combines both cross-country skiing and rifle shooting and is treated as a race, with the first athlete to cross the line clinching the crown.
Athletes’ shooting accuracy is used to determine the distance or time between the field, with Meenagh’s inability to keep his efforts clean – not missing a shot – costing him a possible medal.
He ended up finishing sixth in an overall time of 40:32.5, exactly 3:03.1 behind gold medallist Liu Mengtao and just over two minutes shy of a podium place.
Elsewhere in the field, fellow Scot Callum Deboys endured a day to forget as he could only muster 18th with a time of 44:53.8.
Another groundbreaking day for @ParalympicsGB in Beijing!
— Phil Smith (@PhilSmith_BPA) March 11, 2022
BRONZE for Ollie Hill in the BSL Snowboard. GB's first ever Paralympic medal in the sport.
6th for @SMeenagh in the Nordic 12.5k Biathlon - the best British result since 1998.
So proud of each & every one of this team! pic.twitter.com/m2VfFXnTyQ
The Prestwick star was well off the pace and ended up second bottom in the standings ahead of Korean Yoomin Won.
The 25-year-old, who along with Meenagh is one of over 1,000 athletes are able to train full-time, access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering technology, science and medical support thanks to vital National Lottery funding, said: “I’m absolutely gutted with that, but this is all a learning experience for me.
“The first three laps were probably the best I’ve shot or felt, but on the last one I was just blowing.
“I’ve got to take that forward, get fitter and in better shape.”
No one does more to support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes than National Lottery players, who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes including grassroots and elite sport. Discover the positive impact playing the National Lottery has at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk and get involved by using the hashtag: #TNLAthletes
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