Paralympian may appeal decision that she's "too good" for her disability

From The Daily Post in the UK:

A North Wales schoolgirl who lost her Paralympic medal and world record may have the heart-breaking decision appealed.

Rebecca Chin, 16, and mum Lucy Wakeham have arrived home in Deganwy trying to make sense of the nightmare ruling at the Beijing Paralympics.

It saw Rebecca lose her silver medal in the discus because she was “technically too good” for her disability.

They were dealt another bombshell when Rebecca had her disability re-classified by experts in China who revealed she has cerebral palsy.

An appeal against the decision is being considered by the British Paralympic Association.

“It was heartbreaking for Rebecca. She just worked so hard to be the best at her sport,” said her mum, who for months took Rebecca to special training sessions in Cardiff for her to learn how to throw the discus, harnessing her power correctly so that she did not fall over.

“They (at Beijing) actually failed her because her technique was too good. They said they were 100% certain she has cerebral palsy and that her technique was too advanced.”

Rebecca has a lower-limb impairment in both feet and ankles which makes balancing difficult. She was originally classified by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in June as being F44 – eligible to compete with those who have lower-limb problems or amputations.

But on the eve of the Games’ opening she was re-classified by an IPC doctor, physiotherapist and jury member, and moved to the F38 group for athletes with signs of cerebral palsy, head injury or stroke.

She was also diagnosed at the re-classification in Beijing as having mild cerebral palsy, which was affecting her balance.

Rebecca’s silver medal for discus was taken from her about 20 minutes after the ceremony and because the gold medallist was in a different classification, Rebecca’s throw would have been a new world record.

“My dream is to compete, even if it means I have to compete in another sport. And despite everything that has happened, I still feel like a Paralympian,” Rebecca told a Sunday newspaper.

Lucy added: “Are people with a disability only supposed to reach a certain level? She has worked and worked and sacrificed everything, time with friends and family, even her sister’s 21st birthday. To get there and be told you are technically too good and you don’t fall over enough is ridiculous.

“I would like to thank the Federation of Disability Sport Wales, however, who were over there to help in any way they could and they were amazingly supportive and looked after Rebecca.”

The news that Rebecca has cerebral palsy is also something Lucy will have to investigate. She says they were “gobsmacked” when told Rebecca had been re-classified and would be competing in a category for cerebral palsy.

“It’s so unfair, everything she worked for they took away.”

The Aberconwy student is looking to return to school this week and getting stuck into her A-level studies in history, PE and biology.