Second never good enough as Paralympian Michelle Stilwell retires
VICTORIA — A second place finish at the Paralympic Games marks a superhuman effort for most people, but winning a silver in London wasn’t good enough for Michelle Stilwell.
She says the silver in the 100 metres wheelchair race at the 2012 Games was a career low point.
Stilwell, one of the world’s most decorated Paralympic athletes and the first Canadian Paralympian to win gold in two different sports, announced her retirement Wednesday night after a stellar athletic career, winning seven Paralympic medals, including six golds, and numerous world championship titles.
“Most people would say, ‘How can you not be happy with a silver medal,’” Stilwell said in an interview before her announcement. “But when you know you are capable of achieving gold and you come back with silver, knowing it was 100 per cent your fault and after 1,760 days of preparation for a less than 20-second event, it’s hard to take.”