Great Britain at the Sofia Deaflympics 2013

As the 22nd Deaflympic Games come to an end, so do our daily highlights. In this final episode, watch the Women's football team get presented with their medals, as well as the whole squad celebrating their efforts at the closing ceremony. 

Thank you to everyone who has represented or supported DeaflympicsGB this summer!

Watch the penultimate day of Sofia2013, as Cathy Fletcher challenges for the bronze medal in both the Women's singles and the Mixed Doubles, partnered by husband Lewis Fletcher.

Also in the Women's football third place playoff, GB come up against Poland in a nail biting encounter which was taken all the way to penalties.

Highlights from day 8 of Sofia2013, including the Womens Doubles competing in the third place playoff, @Oluchi_z running in the 100m hurdles final and @tomsmiffy being presented with his second medal of the games.

As the DeaflympicsGB squad returns home from Sofia2013 with their haul of three bronze and two silver medals, Project Leader Gordon Hay reflects on what has been a successful and emotional games. 

"This was a challenging Deaflympics for all nations given the short preparation time for the Games. The GB team were also hampered by our well-documented funding issues, with a number of our athletes having to pay out of their own pockets to make the trip.

"Despite this, the team matched our expectations with a haul of five medals (two silvers and three bronzes).  We were very close to securing a couple more medals, notably in tennis where injuries to our team captain Cathy Fletcher denied her what would have been a very well-deserved reward.

"We were also impressed with our young swimmers who broke a number of national records in the pool and exceeded their target of finals reached.

"Tom Smith in cycling and Melanie Jewett from athletics, who were both competing at their first Deaflympics, were superb in gaining medals.

"The nations such as Russia which are high up in the medal table receive full financial support from their governments, and we were always playing catch-up.

Silver Medals 

Cycling - Tom Smith (Cardiff)

This years most successful DeaflympicsGB athlete, Tom Smith, claimed his first of two medals on day 6 in the Individual Road Race.

Tom delivered a tactically brilliant race, as he rode just behind the leading pack until the last 1 km where he caught up with them, breaking their momentum and allowing himself to sprint to the finish line.

Tom Smith: "I’m very proud to re-establish cycling for Great Britain and winning cycling’s first medal since 1973 when Malcolm Lee Johnson claimed 2 gold’s and a silver medal."

Mens Individual Road Race Standings

1 Makarov (RUS) - 2:22:28

2 Smith (GBR) - ST (same time)

3 Carbone (ITA) - ST

4 Carruthers (NZ) - ST

Athletics - Lauren Peffers (South Shields)

After incredible hard work and determination, Lauren Peffers concluded her third Deaflympics games in style as she edged out Russia’s Luliia Emilyevna Abubiakirova to claim second in the Women’s 400m final.

Lauren Peffers: "I was after Gold so I am wee bit disappointed to get Silver. But I am happy with Silver given the injuries I've had. I can't complain."

Women’s 400m Final Standings

1 Tsiarentsyeva (Bel) 55.35 (WR)

2 Peffers (GBR) - 57.25

3 Abubiakirova (RUS) 57.47

Bronze Medals 

Athletics - Melanie Jewett (Southampton)

DeaflympicsGB’s first medal was delivered on the first day of the games, as Melanie Jewett finished third in the Königsschlösser Romantic Marathon (Germany).

Although Melanie has competed in over 50 marathons during her career, this was her debut for DeaflympicsGB, and she raced to a finish time of 3:23:54.

Melanie Jewett: “It was an absolutely amazing feeling winning that bronze and only six minutes behind gold.”

Women’s Marathon Standings

1 Keller-Werder (SWI)

2 Zareba (POL)

3 Jewett (GBR) - 3:23:54 

Cycling - Tom Smith (Cardiff)

Tom Smith’s second medal of Sofia2013 on day 8 in the Points Race where he scored a total of 28 points, the same tally as second placed Andreevich Dmitry Rozanov (Rus).

Men’s Points Race Standings

1 Klish (USA) - 105

2 Rozanov (Rus) -28

3 Smith (GBR) - 28

Women’s Football

DeaflympicsGB’s final medal of Sofia2013 was a team effort, as the Women’s football team beat Poland in a nail-biting game. 

With the score still locked at 1-1 after extra time, GB won the bronze medal on penalties as they converted four, whilst Poland could only find the net twice.

Victoria Wenman (on her winning penalty): "I realised I was here for my country. It was everything I'd aimed for. It was my dream. This was the moment! And it had come true. I steadied myself, took the run up to the spot and smashed the ball into the top corner! Yes!

This is for you! This is for my country! This is for all of you!"

Women’s Football Bronze Medal Match. 

Final Score:

Great Britain 1 - 1 Poland (AET)

It was 40 years ago in Sweden when Team GB was involved in the Deaflympics. Today, cyclist Tom Smith got his second medal of the Games, winning Bronze. 

Results

TENNIS

10:00 – Women Singles Bronze Match – Catherine Fletcher v. Sophie Bernard (FRA)

14:00 – Mixed Doubles Bronze Match – Fletcher & Fletcher v. Bernard & Laurent (FRA)

FOOTBALL