Tokyo Part 1: Waiting for the call…

It’s been 21 days since my return from the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games, I have had time to digest and reflect upon my experience and I am delighted to share it with you in this blog.

So, buckle up! It’s going to be a good one.

Before we sink our teeth into the delicious Kobe steak that is the Paralympic Games, I feel obliged to fill you in on my 2021 season leading up to said Games… so I will.

In my previous blog I talked about my first race of the season being a Marathon in Thruxton and how it went surprisingly well, finishing 2nd with a new Personal Best. Despite the good result, it was still not good enough for a spot on the Paralympic Team and would have to continue to prove myself in other competitions.

I then moved on to my first track meet of the season in Coventry, which turned out to be the only opportunity to get qualifying standards for the European Championships which were taking place in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

In Coventry I competed in the 100m up to the 5000m, beating all of my British team mates and was able to get 2 Personal Bests in the 400m & 1500m, therefore guaranteeing a spot on the Team for the European Championships, my first-time representing Team GB had finally arrived! It was incredibly rewarding to see the hard-work invested in lockdown paying off.

Travelling with Team GB during a global pandemic was truly a unique experience, the amount of preparation and paperwork was truly overwhelming, it was unlike any other competition I had been to.

Thankfully, despite being somewhat out of my comfort zone, I was able gain a Silver medal in my first race the 1500m! A couple of frustrating 4th place finishes would follow in the 400m & 5000m and a truly unremarkable 6th in the 800m, but all in all really pleased with my performances considering my lack of experience competing at this level against the best in the Continent. 

My performances at the Europeans, whilst admirable, still not worthy of a Paralympic Games, so the quest continued.

Many more track competitions took place in Coventry and the final one at the England Championships in Bedford, where I was able to win a Gold medal in the 800m, Silver in the 100m and Bronze in the 400m. All throughout theses competitions I was steadily chipping away at my Personal Bests. 

Whilst the 2021 season has been my best to date, I was still unconvinced that I had done enough to earn a spot on the Paralympic Team. I would only know for sure if I got ‘The Call’

Shortly after the England Championships we were told that a member of British Athletics would call each individual athlete to let them know that they had been selected and the distances they would be competing in, if you don’t get the call, you didn’t make the cut.

And so began the most torturous day of my life.

Naturally, I spent the whole day glued to my phone hoping that I had done enough. As I went about my day and the hours were going by, I still yet to receive a phone call. It got to around 18:30 and still nothing and it was at that moment where I thought to myself ‘I haven’t made it’ There is nothing worse than waiting for a phone call that might never happen, so I sent a text to my mum and to my coach to let them know that I hadn’t made the team. They were both comforting and optimistic and told me to not lose hope just yet.

Half an hour later… lo and behold… the phone started to ring!! With the news I was so eagerly awaiting, that little old me, Danny Sidbury, was worthy of representing Team GB at the Paralympic Games!

Now, I wish I could end the story there… but there’s more!

Naturally I was overjoyed with the news, but was under strict instructions not to reveal my newly found Paralympic status until British Athletics had officially announced the team selection in the next couple of days.

Sure enough, British Athletics reveal their Paralympic line-up and I was able to share the good news with family, friends and sponsors.

The following day, disaster struck! I received another call from British Athletics saying that a couple of athletes had put in an appeal (due to not being selected) and as a result I was now one of the athletes at risk of losing my Paralympic seat to one of these other athletes.

British Athletics reassured me that after the 7 hour long meeting the panel felt confident in their decision, but legally would have to hear the appeal of the other athletes and that I would find out the final verdict in 4 days’ time.

I was instructed to continue as if I were still going, and in doing so, continuing with my training, attending countless zoom calls, filling out paperwork and trying on kit, all in the knowledge that I might not even be going to the Games. 

Alas, I got the third and final call officially confirming that I was going to the Games and that the appeal of the other athletes didn’t have a leg to stand on (pun absolutely intended)

This concludes part 1. In part 2 I will write exclusively about the Paralympic experience and the highs and lows of elite level sport which you will be able to read in the next blog.

All pictures credited to British Athletics and Getty Images