This from Reuters...

Best,
Betty
"Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill"
_____________________________________________
Paralympics-Canadian keeps gold after appeal upheld

By Greg Buckle

SYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Canadian wheelchair athlete Chantal Petitclerc
will keep her Paralympics gold medal for the T54 800 metres after a court
overturned an earlier decision to re-run the race which was marred by a
spectacular crash.

Petitclerc upset Australian Louise Sauvage, unbeaten on the track in eight
years, in the T54 800 metres final on Sunday at the Sydney Paralympics. But
at the back other wheelchair athletes crashed in the first 200 metres.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned on Tuesday night the
event referee's decision to re-run the race.

"The only official with any power to decide what should happen when there is
a collision within 200 metres of the start is the starter," CAS said in a
statement upholding the Canadian appeal.

Ireland's Patrice Dockery was disqualified for the interference which caused
the crash as Sauvage and Petitclerc fought out a thrilling duel clear of the
pack.

Petitclerc and Sauvage will clash again on Wednesday night in the T54 1,500
metres final at the Olympic stadium.

POSSIBLE NO SHOW FROM PETITCLERC AVOIDED

The Canadians had been suggesting if the re-run went ahead on Thursday night,
Petitclerc might not front because of her heavy competition schedule at the
Games.

"I'm thrilled," Petitclerc said on Wednesday in an official team statement.
"This is a proud moment for me."

"I look forward to being able to focus on racing. I'm glad that fair play has
prevailed," she said.

Canada's chef de mission Wayne Hellquist said the CAS had "righted a wrong."

Australian chef de mission Paul Bird said he was relieved the issue had been
dealt with and that Sauvage, who admitted on Sunday she had simply been
beaten by the better competitor on the night, could focus fully on her
training.

"She's just getting on with the competition that she planned for," Bird said.

Sauvage, the World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, lit the
Paralympic flame at the opening ceremony on October 18.

22:16 10-24-00