By Dan Plouffe
Still on the recovery path from an illness that had him on antibiotics in the lead-up to the London 2012 Paralympics, Ottawa Lions wheelchair racer Josh Cassidy completed his sixth race of the Games on Sunday.
Behind Great Britain’s David Weir, who won his fourth gold medal of the Games, the 27-year-old wound up placing 12th in a time of 1:33:06.
On perhaps the hottest day of the Games, Cassidy said he was “pretty bagged” after completing the tough 42.2 km course that passed many of London’s top sights, including St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge.
“For a big guy like me, it was a lot of turns, a lot of slow spots,” highlighted the Ottawa-born athlete who now lives in Toronto. “It’s not a great course for me, but I gave everything I had.”
Cassidy, who set a wheelchair marathon world record earlier this season in Boston, had focused his training on the 5,000 and 1,500 m instead of the longer endurance test.
“It kind of showed. The guys I was with I haven’t in a pack with for quite awhile,” he added. “My general fitness was there, but I think I’m still recovering.”
Cassidy leaves London 2012 with a top finish of fifth place, which came in the 800. He had a wild start to that race when a pair of athletes crashed in front of him and then bumped him onto the track infield.
“I couldn’t believe I was still up,” Cassidy recalled. “When there’s adversity or some obstacle, it just gives me even more adrenaline. I knew I would get back in there. I expended a lot trying to get back in and didn’t have much for the end, but that’s the way racing goes.”
Although he didn’t come away with the medals he originally targeted prior to his illness, Cassidy expressed satisfaction with his performances in London given the circumstances.
“You have to be,” he explained. “Otherwise this could drive me insane for the next four years, but I’d prefer it to not. I’ve already had enough frustration, so it seems pretty easy to let go of stuff now.
“Despite everything that’s happened and all the tough luck, I’m proud of how I did. I’m happy with it because I couldn’t ask anything more of myself.”