Shropshire Star

Shropshire's Commonwealth gold star Sarah Adlington in medal loss scare

Shropshire's triumphant judo star, Sarah Adlington, had to cut her celebrations short after temporarily losing her gold medal.

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The 27-year-old athlete, took the gold medal in the women's +78kg judo final, with parents, Terry and Hilary Adlington from Bayston Hill near Shrewsbury, watching in the crowd.

She now represents Scotland, where she has lived for the past nine years.

After a brief celebratory hug with her parents, following the medal ceremony, Sarah made her way back to the athletes' village in the east end of Glasgow where she was planning to celebrate with fellow Shropshire silver medalist Kelly Edwards from Telford.

But then she realised her medal was missing.

She initially thought one of her team mates was playing a joke on her but soon found out that no one was hiding it.

"When we were getting back into the village we went through security so I put my medal in its box and put it through," she said.

"When I saw the box at the other end my medal wasn't in it but I thought someone was just messing about and having a little joke – it's the kind of thing I like to do so I expect it back to me.

"It was only after we were in the food hall that everyone was adamant and telling me, 'Sarah we don't have your medal', so I had to go back and try and find it."

Adlington went back to the athletes' security entrance and caused a panic among staff who started searching for the prized medal.

"When I first went in the woman in security was having a bit of a panic but she could see that we were serious and they eventually found it stuck in the x-ray machine.

"It could've been there for days but lucky they found it and we're reunited."

As Mr and Mrs Adlington prepared to return home to Bayston Hill they said last night that Sarah's success had not yet sunk in.

"It has been so emotional, we are so proud of what she has achieved," Mr Adlington said.

Mrs Adlington admitted that for a brief moment she did not know whether Sarah had won.

"When the buzzer went I looked at the scoring. I knew Sarah had some penalties and I thought at first she had lost. What has happened and what it means for the future just hasnt sunk in yet. My hands and my feet are still sore from all the clapping and foot stomping.

"The atmosphere and the Scottish crowd was terrific. People kept coming up and congratulating us."

The couple said their daughter's win was made all the more special because it was her first competition since February.

"Sarah had shoulder surgery in February so we were proud enough that she had got to the games at all. For her to win a gold medal in her first competition back was incredible," Mr Adlington said.

She said their son Chris had watched his sister's success with friends on the Welsh coast where he had been taking part in dinghy sailing.

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