Seonaid McIntosh knows all about pain after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a teenager… the world number one will use that resilience to rebound stronger after narrowly missing out on the 50m rifle final at the Tokyo Olympics
When you are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a teenager, you know about pain.
When your knee swells to the size of a softball just before prom, when you cannot drive the car your parents have bought you and when you are told of the possibility you may be in a wheelchair by 50, you tend to be ready for pretty much anything.
It should come as no surprise, then, that Seonaid McIntosh – the world number one – was philosophical when she failed to make the final of the women’s 50m rifle (3 positions) on a deeply disappointing, steamy Saturday in the outskirts of Tokyo.
Seonaid McIntosh, diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a teenager, is no stranger to pain
‘The arthritissy stuff doesn’t really come into it most of the time,’ the 25-year-old said, minutes after her Olympic dream had expired. ‘But a friend of mine recently sent me a message. He knows what it’s like because he’s got the same thing.
‘He gave me nice words of wisdom that really resonated with me at the time. He said ‘you go through more before breakfast than most people go through in a day’. It helps keep it in context.’
Scotland’s McIntosh, the girl with the blue hair, had been fancied to take Team GB’s first gold in the 10m rifle finals last Saturday but failed to qualify for the final. At the time, she did not seem too perturbed.
The 50m was her event but after starting slowly, she left herself too much to do. For most of us, hitting a barn door from that distance would be an achievement in itself. But for the elite, it comes down to a target the size of a five-pence-piece.
But for the Scot, missing out on the 10m and 50m rifle final at the Tokyo Olympics will hurt
Millimetres make the difference, and McIntosh’s aim was off enough to bring this to a premature conclusion. It is to her credit that she had the mental strength to remain upbeat. ‘I’m a bit heartbroken, it did not go as I hoped,’ she admitted.
‘But it was not dreadful, I guess, I was close to making the final but a lot of it got lost in a few ways and a few places. Some of it was amazing but it was not enough.’
Moments earlier, at the end of a gruelling 165 minutes and 120 shots in 32C heat, she had calmly placed her weapon on the stand. She took out her earpiece, stretched out her hands and took a sip of water.
It was only when she headed to the man stood behind her – dad, coach and former Scotland shooter Donald – that the emotion arrived. McIntosh Sr softly put his arms around his girl, and no doubt told her how proud he was. Then came the tears.
But McIntosh will likely return to a hero’s welcome from her family – and she richly deserves it
‘It’s always nice to have dad behind me, whether I win or I lose – it’s good to have daddy hugs when you get off.’ You get the impression that McIntosh will deal with this and move on. Perhaps use it to spur herself on in Paris, three years from now.
‘Definitely,’ she said, when asked. ‘In every competition there’s something you can take from it. Whether I have worked out what that is yet, I don’t know. Something you can learn. I am certainly intending to go to Paris so I guess it’s experience in a big competition.’
For now the girl with ice in her veins is looking forward to getting home to a cooler climate. ‘I’m hoping it’s slightly cooler back there!’ she said. ‘It’ll be nice to see my family and friends.
‘I have been quite isolated from my family for quite a few weeks before we came here to make sure everyone was safe and we could come here and do this.’ You get the impression that she will return to a hero’s welcome. She deserves it.