HELENSBURGH wheelchair tennis hero Gordon Reid has admitted that he has to watch TV footage to properly bring back memories of how he won Paralympic gold in Rio.
The former Hermitage Academy pupil, winner of the last seven Grand Slam titles he’s played alongside fellow Brit Alfie Hewett, defeated his compatriot in straight sets in 2016, becoming the first British player to win a Paralympic men’s singles gold medal.
The opening ceremony of the 2021 Games – being held, like the recent Olympics, behind closed doors – takes place on Tuesday, August 24, with the tennis competition starting three days later.
Looking back on his Rio experience, 29-year-old Reid told paralympic.org: “I‘ve got amazing memories, I loved every moment of it, from the preparation camp we had in Sao Paolo with the GB team through to the last match in the singles, and then the closing ceremony.
“But the winning moment, I don’t remember much. I’ve watched it back quite a few times and I probably remember more from watching it back than I do from being in that moment.
READ MORE: Gordon Reid's family shares pride in Paralympic glory at Rio Games (from 2016)
"It’s kind of a cliché, but I was totally in the zone at that moment in time and focussing totally on my performance.”
Reid says that having achieved his 2016 goals – Paralympic gold, a Grand Slam singles title, and becoming world number one – he subsequently struggled with his own, and others’, high expectations.
But with two singles titles so far this year, as well as that remarkable run of seven Grand Slam doubles titles, he certainly has momentum – and with tournament wins over the world’s top four, Hewett, Shingo Kunieda, Gustavo Fernandez and Joachim Gerard, to his name this year, you discount the world number five at your peril.
“I started well this year with some good results in Australia, Rotterdam and then Loughborough,” he said, “and I feel that I’ve built that momentum again.
“Physically, I’m feeling good and mentally I’m really motivated and I’m enjoying a lot of success in doubles with Alfie [Hewett], so I take a lot of confidence from that, as well.
“What’s really important for me is to be enjoying situations and not to get stressed by any pressure.”
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