THE Olympic Games were, by any stretch, an overwhelming success for the Scots in Team GB.
But that success may end up being dwarfed by the Scots headed to Tokyo for the Paralympics, which has the potential to see even more silverware return to these shores.
Scottish Olympians brought home 13 medals from Tokyo, one more than the tally from both London and Rio.
However, the strength of the Scottish contingent in Paralympics GB is shaping up to garner an even more impressive total.
Of the 33 Scots in Tokyo for the Paralympics, which begins with the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, a significant proportion have arrived in Tokyo as true medal contenders.
The recent announcement that the Paralympics will follow the lead of the Olympics and take place without fans was, of course, a blow, but the success of the Olympics despite the empty stands bodes well for the coming fortnight.
As in the Olympic Games, track and field is the flagship event at the Paralympics and some of the real big-hitters in the GB para-athletics squad are Scots.
Defending champions, sprinter Libby Clegg and club thrower Jo Butterfield, both have their sights set on successfully defending their titles, although Clegg in particular has had a considerably different build-up to these Games than she did ahead of Rio.
The 31-year-old has won four Paralympic medals to date, a brace of silvers at London 2012 was followed by two golds, in the T11 100m and 200m in Rio but Tokyo will be her first Paralympics as a mother.
Clegg gave birth to her first child in April of 2019 and so while the year’s delay to the Games may have been a huge disappointment to some, it has given Clegg significantly more time to regain her pre-baby form.
Long-jumper Stef Reid is another to watch out for in the Olympic Stadium, with the 31-year-old desperate to add a gold to her two silvers from London and Rio.
Wheelchair sprinter, Sammi Kinghorn, is yet to get her hands on any Paralympic silverware but having won multiple world titles in recent years, is tipped to pick up medals over the next two weeks, as is her fellow sprinter, Maria Lyle, who collected three medals in Rio as a 16-year-old and who has gained considerably more experience in the intervening period.
Marathon runner Derek Rae could be an outside bet for a medal while wheelchair racer, Mel Woods, will make her Paralympic debut in Tokyo following an accident in 2018 that left her paralysed.
Tokyo will, in fact, be something of a family affair for the Cleggs, with Libby’s brother, Stephen, one of six Scots in the swimming squad.
Alongside him in the para-swimming squad is three-time medallist from Rio, Andrew Mullen, as is 2016 silver medallist, Scott Quin.
18-year-old Toni Shaw makes her Games debut with the multiple world medallist tipped to make her mark in Tokyo.
On the tennis court, Gordon Reid heads to Tokyo to defend both his singles and doubles titles from Rio.
The singles has a number of players in with a chance of gold but in the doubles, Reid and his partner, Englishman Alfie Hewitt, have been all but unbeatable in recent years.
The pair have won 12 grand slam titles together and are tipped to add another Paralympic title in Rio.
One of the most recognisable faces in the squad is para-powerlifter, Micky Yule, with the army veteran craving a Paralympic medal in Tokyo.
The cycling squad includes multiple champions, Neil Fachie and Aileen McGlynn while triathlete, Alison Peasgood, is hoping to improve on her silver medal from Rio.
GB’s wheelchair basketball teams have an excellent prospect of claiming a spot on the podium, with the women’s side including two Scots, Robyn Love and Jude Hamer. The side is currently ranked second in the world and aim to improve on their fourth-place finish in Rio.
Para-shooter Lesley Stewart and para-archer Nathan McQueen will both make their Games debut while boccia brothers Scott and Jamie McCowan are worth looking out for.
Elsewhere, there are a number of star names included in the GB squad.
The cycling team boasts Paralympic great and 14-time gold medallist, Sarah Storey, as well as Kadeena Cox, who was a gold medallist in both athletics and cycling in Rio but will focus her efforts in the velodrome in Tokyo.
In athletics, endurance racer, David Weir, will compete in his seventh Paralympic Games while sprinter, Jonnie Peacock, who was one of the stars of London 2012, will go for the hat-trick of golds in the T44 100m.
In the pool, Ellie Simmonds will make her fourth Paralympic appearance despite still being only 26 years old while 2016 flagbearer, Lee Pearson, is aiming to add further to his tally of 11 equestrian gold medals.
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