danny crates

UKA MEDIA RELEASE                                                                                                                                      12/07/09

Danny Crates, one of the UK’s most successful Paralympic athletes of the past decade is to retire this summer after one final race at the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace on Saturday 25 July. 

Crates, who famously won 800m gold in the T46 class at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens was also the flag bearer for Team GB at the 2008 Games. Unfortunately, he was unable to defend his title when a calf injury ruled him out on the eve of competing in Beijing.

His return to international athletics was blighted this summer when a hamstring injury at the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester in May forced him to pull out of the men’s T46 800m race when well placed with just 200m remaining. However, the 36-year-old can look back on a glittering career that has also seen him win World and European gold, as well as hold the world record in his class.

Danny Crates said: “The last two years have been tough for me. I had the massive high of carrying the flag in Beijing, followed closely by the massive low of not being able to compete. In the lead up to the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester this year, I had a hamstring injury and I probably made a comeback to racing a week too early.

“It was very disappointing and was the first time I have not finished a race in 10 years. The mind is willing, but I’m not sure that the body is anymore. I am going through a stage that every sportsperson has to face up to at some point. London 2012 would be a long shot for a 39 year old athlete and there isn’t another international championship open to me for another 18 months.

“I have always been hugely honoured to pull on a Great Britain vest. It means the world to me. I have had 11 years as an international athlete and it is not going to be easy to walk away. Of course as a middle-distance athlete, there are elements of the training that I won’t miss, but I have always loved competing.

“Ever since I began to think about retirement, I have always wanted to do it at Crystal Palace. As an athlete you get to travel and compete all over the world, but the true excitement comes in front of a home crowd. I know it will be very emotional with my family and friends present, but I cannot think of a better way of saying thankyou to all those who have supported me over the years.”

Looking back on his career, he picked out Athens as an over-riding memory. He said: “It was one that meant so much to me. To take that gold medal in a tough field in a tough class was so very special. To be able to turn to my family and friends in the stadium after I had been presented with the medal was simply a perfect moment in time and is something I will never forget.

“I will also be forever grateful to my coach Ayo Falola. I first joined him for training alongside Donna Fraser and Catherine Murphy and they really taught me what it meant to be an international athlete. I was a runner, but by the time Athens came around, I really felt like I was a proper international athlete. Ayo honed my skills and helped me become the athlete I was.”

Peter Eriksson, UKA Head Coach – Paralympics said: “Danny has had a brilliant career and has left an indelible mark on the sport here in the UK. He is hugely respected, not just as an athlete but as a man. 

“He has given an enormous amount to Paralympic athletics and I hope he will remain involved in the sport in some capacity as he still has a lot to offer. I wish him the very best for this final race at the Aviva London Grand Prix and hope the crowd there will give him the send off he so richly deserves.”

Tickets for the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace, London on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July are available by phone on 08000 556 056 or online at www.uka.org.uk

Don’t quite know the best way to explain this one.  whist cross training on my bike (giving my hamstring a rest).  I came a cropper at a fair speed.  

The result was a nasty cut to my left knee and a fractured bone in the palm of my hand.  

OH JOY!!!!!

After all the upsets of Beijing 2008, I decided that was no way to finish a 10yr career.  So off I went again, to battle the highs and lows of winter training.  Pounding the streets in the pouring rain and running on the mud soaked grass.  Oh the joys!!!!

The injuries and troubles of Beijing were now behind me; well almost I still felt pain in my right Achilles every time I ran.  This alone was making the winter training tough going, both physically and mentally.

March brought the much-needed warm weather trip to San Diego. Training was finally coming together, and keep it to yourself, but I think the Achilles was starting to settle down.  I was now feeling confident about the forth-coming season and the fast approaching Paralympic World Cup.

Preparation was going very well, until 4weeks pre race, I sustained a grade one tear to my left hamstring.  Frustrating would be an understatement.  But as always, I took the optimistic approach.  Still 4weeks to go.  After 2 1/2weeks I was back into full training, with a quick 4 days out recovering from a bug my wonderful son picked up and lovingly shared with me, and the family, great!!!

I decided to race just 4 days prior to the world cup.  I felt I needed to get some rust out of the legs.  A good job too.  That was the slowest 800m I have ever run.

Sunday 25th May finally arrived.  The Paralympic World Cup was upon us, and here was my chance to prove to the World that I was back.  The apprehension had really started to get to me. The pressure I was feeling to once again lead the field in 800m running.  This was not helped by the last 4 weeks training.

As the race approached I had calmed myself with the knowledge that I had achieved in my sport and this was only the beginning of the comeback.  This enabled me to relax a bit.  I even shared a laugh in the moments before the race with the current World Record holder.  Something I would never have contemplated in races past.  All that said though. Once I put on the GB vest I had only one intention, TO WIN.

This race was even more special to me, my son Henry was there to see me race for the very first time.

Danny Crates Paralympic World Cup 09

As the gun went I suddenly felt at home, back racing.  At the bell I felt comfortable and found myself working through the pack. As we approached 600m I was leading the current Paralympic champ and poised to attack the race leader.  When suddenly I felt some twinges in my left hamstring.  Within 10m it was over.  I had stepped off of the track in pain. As an athlete that is the lowest feeling, sitting on the edge of the track, watching the race conclude without me.  This was the only race I have failed to finish in 10yrs.

I was scanned on the Tuesday and it was revealed I know had a 5cm grade two tear to my hamstring.  4-6weeks rehab.

So what now? Same as always, stay positive, do the rehab (well most of it) and get back out on the track.

See you in 4 weeks!!!!!

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Well as I am sure many of you are now aware.  Beijing did not quite work out as planned.  After many months of battling injury I finally succumbed to a 2cm tear in my right soleous, ruling me out of the race I had worked so hard for.

Sadly all this came less than 24hrs after one of the biggest highs, and proudest moments in my career.  Carrying the flag, and leading Paralympics GB out into the opening ceremony.

It is hard to describe the emotions of the Opening Ceremony, it is something that as an athlete you dream of, that honor.  But whilst I enjoyed and cherished every moment, I had that 1% doubt in my mind.

 Just knowing how much I had been through, just to be there.

After I realized that I would not be able to compete, I took the toughest of decisions, I Left early and returned home.

So what now, well I am back in training and hoping to put the demons of Beijing 2008 behind me.  I have the small matter of going back after the 800m World record I held since 2004.  I do not believe a middle distance World record belongs in Poland!!!!!!!