n Danny Crates celebrates another title.
ESSEX athlete and Paralympic gold medallist Danny Crates has announced his retirement from the sport.
Crates, who had a promising rugby career, playing at both regional and county level, suffered a horrific accident in 1994 while travelling and working in Australia, losing his right arm.
Not to be deterred, Crates resumed his rugby career in Thurrock, becoming the only known arm amputee playing club rugby in the country, receiving worldwide media attention. He also turned his attention to athletics with Thurrock Harriers where he was to achieve world wide fame.
As a natural speedster, he soon found that he was competing with the best in the World in his event, the T46 400m arm amputee class. In the 1998 World Championships,
Crates made his international debut, by reaching the 400m final and winning a silver medal in the 4 x 400m relay event in a new European record time. Danny’s potential was also recognised in the Paralympic Games Sydney 2000, where he was narrowly beaten, into the bronze medal position in the 400m. Danny also captured the European 400m title.
His finest hour came when he took gold in the 800m at Athens in 2004.
Recent years have been difficult for the 36-year-old who moved from Stanford-le-Hope to Malden a couple of years ago. He has been blighted by injury though he was given the honour of carrying the flag for Great Britain in the opening ceremony of last year's Beijing Paralympic Games
He will now run his final race at Crystal Palace on 25 July.
He said: “I've had a fantastic career over 11 years but the last two years haven't gone quite according to plan and it's been quite frustrating because I think I had more to give."
"The only frustration I have is that time-wise I don't think I ever ran as fast as I think I could have," he added.