Marie-Amelie le Fur of France trips as she crosses line to win gold ahead of April Homes of the United States Women's 100m T44 Final at the Paralympic Games in London
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France's Marie-Amelie Le Fur, the Netherlands' Marlou van Rhijn and USA's April Holmes are all on the IPC's Ones to Watch list after completing the podium for the 100m T44 race at London 2012.
© • Getty Images
After missing out on gold by just 0.01 seconds in Beijing in 2008, Le Fur finally fulfilled her dream of winning Paralympic gold in London in another stunning photo finish to the 100m T43/44 race.
Born in September 1988, Le Fur took up athletics aged six. Unfortunately, she lost her left leg just below the knee after a serious motorcycle accident in 2004.
Just one year after Le Fur was running with a prosthetic leg and preparing for her debut at the 2006 IPC World Championship in Assen, the Netherlands. There she won three silver medals in the 100m (13.74), 200m (28.37) and long jump (4.87m).
At her first Paralympic Games in 2008 she was involved in a thrilling 100m race. American April Holmes edged the gold, 0.01 seconds ahead of Le Fur who finished in 13.73. She also took long jump silver (4.71m).
Le Fur finally struck gold at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in New Zealand, topping the podium in the 100m (13.19) and 200m (27.96).
In London Le Fur was in blistering form and left with one medal of each colour.
The 100m final was one of the most exciting races of the Games with Le Fur again involved in a nail biting finish. She was first across the line in 13.19, just ahead of her Dutch rival Marlou van Rhijn (13.32) and Holmes (13.33) who took silver and bronze respectively.
The 200m was equally as exciting. This time double leg amputee van Rhijn took gold (26.18), whilst Le Fur (26.76) smashed the 200m T44 world record for single leg amputees to claim silver.
She was on the podium again when she took long jump bronze (5.14m) behind F42 jumpers Kelly Cartwright of Australia and Great Britain’s Stef Reid who took gold and silver respectively.
