UPDATED: McFadden Looks Forward After Rio 2016 Haul

(ATR) Tatyana McFadden wants to finish what she started in Rio in Tokyo.

McFadden competed in seven track and field races at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. Her shortest distance was the T54 100m and raced all the way up to the marathon. She secured four gold medals and two silvers, a feat she wants to build upon in Tokyo.

In her final event of competition, McFadden and Lihong Zhou, from China, had a photo finish at the end of the marathon. McFadden told reporters after her race she had assumed she finished second after seeing Zhou celebrating crossing the line. As she was being interviewed, McFadden was informed she and Zhou tied for first, both earning gold medals.

"[This] changes things!" McFadden exclaimed after finding out. "It’s phenomenal, I’m really happy to come home with gold. It was really close, but I just gave it all I got and that’s all I can do. I’m so happy, I don’t know what to say, I am shocked."

Unfortunately the moment was short lived,, as the photo finish determined Zhou had won the race.Now, with a the experience from these Games, McFadden will start training right away for Tokyo 2020 and hope to finish what she started.

Before Tokyo, McFadden told Around the Rings she hoped to finish her degree from the University of Illinois and start her own charitable foundation. She would like to use the exposure gained from Rio 2016 to highlight other Paralympic athletes, and push for more companies to offer them sponsors. McFadden used advertisement in Brazil as an example of a country committed to developing para-sport and giving athletes a chance to showcase their abilities.

"Our media has grown so much," McFadden says. "NBC is here, they’ve covered every event every day and hopefully that will trickle down."

Winning a medal in the marathon was special for McFadden after technical problems forced her to withdraw from the event four years ago. She said she was overjoyed that "[the medal] wasn’t taken away from me this time."

"It was a very technical course, so I tried to do a couple of attacks in the beginning but that wasn’t working," McFadden said to ATR. "I knew that athletes were waiting at the end to sprint so I’m proud of myself for pulling the last 3 miles and taking home the [silver]."

The work for Tokyo will start after returning home to the United States. McFadden says she plans to continue racing four marathons a year, and is ready to defend her titles. She knows the United States will step up along with her, and hopes for a top three finish in four years.

"I think we’re getting stronger and stronger each Games," McFadden said. "I definitely think so. It is really quite amazing."

Written by Aaron Bauerin Rio de Janeiro

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