Lions sprinter Bianca Borgella’s first Paralympic Games in Paris ended in a dramatic display of courage and resilience. The 21-year-old Paralympic rookie, who had fought through a hamstring injury to even make it to the Games, saw her dreams of a podium finish slip away during the T13 women’s 100-metre final.
Racing in lane seven, Borgella was in a strong position early in the race, holding fourth place when disaster struck. Around the 30-metre mark, she clutched her left leg and collapsed to the track. Despite the setback, Borgella pulled herself up and hobbled across the finish line, recording a time of 25.11 seconds.
After two days of reflection and recovery, Borgella took to Instagram to share her thoughts on Tuesday’s final: “What an incredible journey this has been! Coming to these Games felt like a miracle, especially after injuring my hamstring six weeks ago during a 200m race. Initially, I feared I wouldn’t compete, but I knew I had to give it my all.”
In the lead-up to the Games, Borgella focused on recovery, working closely with her coaches and support team. She highlighted the importance of listening to her body, a lesson she learned after her initial hamstring injury. “Trusting my instincts has been vital in reaching the Paralympics,” she wrote. With the support of her coaches, friends, and family, she pushed through, feeling stronger than ever by the time she reached Paris.
Borgella’s performance in the preliminary heats had shown promise. She finished second in her heat with a time of 12.15 seconds, the fourth-fastest overall, securing her place in the final. However, the final didn’t unfold as she had hoped. “Just ten minutes before the race, my hamstring ached, but I refused to turn back. I wanted to represent Canada despite the risks of re-injury,” she shared.
Though the race ended in heartbreak, Borgella remains proud of her achievements. “I am proud to say that I finished the race, even after suffering a grade 3 muscle tear in the process. I placed in the top 8th in the world, and most importantly, I made it to the Paralympics.”
Azerbaijan’s Lamiya Valiyeva claimed gold with a new world record time of 11.76 seconds, while Brazil’s Rayane Soares da Silva and Ireland’s Orla Comerford took silver and bronze with times of 11.78 and 11.94, respectively.
Despite the disappointment, Borgella is determined to come back stronger. “This isn’t the end for me – I will return better, stronger, and faster just you wait!!” Her journey may have been interrupted, but her resolve remains unshaken, and she is already looking ahead to future competitions.