Petitclerc closes with 5th gold

Canadian Chantal Petitclerc won the 1,500-metre wheelchair race (T54) in Beijing on Tuesday, a fitting end to an exceptional Paralympic career.

It was her fifth gold medal of the Beijing Games, which will be her last Paralympics.

"I knew I was going to win," said Petitclerc, whose coach sprayed her with champagne after her victory. "When I saw I was on my own, it was like a bonus. These Games have been so good. I felt like it was a gift to finish it all alone. It was great."

Petitclerc broke out of the pack with about 300 metres remaining and handily won the race in three minutes 39.88 seconds. Britain's Shelly Woods was second in 3:40.99 while Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland was third in 3:41.03.

Canada's Diane Roy was eighth in 3:43.66. She will race the marathon on Wednesday. 

Petitclerc, 38, said it still had not sunk in that it was her final Paralympics race. "When I get to the village and I really absorb everything, I think it will sink in," she said. "It's just so great. I know I have worked really hard for it. Nobody gave it to me."

"I took on a big challenge earlier this year when I decided to enter five events," she told CBC Newsworld. "I knew it was possible to do. I knew I had the fitness level and strength, but to actually have these five gold medals is amazing. It’s magical."

Petitclerc, who races in the T54 class — for wheelchair athletes with a range of spinal cord injuries and amputations — also won the 100, 200, 400 and 800 in Beijing, setting world records in the last three events.

Petitclerc has won 21 medals through five Paralympics, including 14 gold, five silver and two bronze.

The Montreal native lost the use of her legs in an accident when she was 13-years-old.

Michael Edgson, a blind swimmer who makes his home in Delta, B.C., captured 18 gold and three silver medals over three Paralympics.

In other races, Oscar Pistorius completed his gold-medal collection after winning the 400 T44 competition. He also won the 100 and 200.

Known as The Blade Runner, the South African double amputee athlete finished in 47.49 seconds, a world record for his disability classification.

Dean Bergeron of Quebec City finished sixth in the 800 for the T52 event in 2:02.01. Montreal's Andre Beaudoin was seventh in 2:08.54.