Anna speaks to the media after a game

"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing."

Vince Lombardi

Goalball overview

On Sunday GB beat Brazil 3-1 with Anna scoring two goals. I asked her about her goals in the mixed zone but of course she could tell me nothing about them! She had not seen them. All she could say was that you throw a lot of shots during a game and sometimes the crowd tells you it has gone in.

She also had the following to say in the mixed zone: “I have a really strong faith in God and when I play it is my worship to God. Some people sing. Some people dance. I play goalball. When you are there and you are scoring goals, you can feel the might of heaven behind you. I really believe that God made me to be the person I am and made me just the way I am. He has given me this sporting talent and I just want to go out and play the best goalball I can.”

Anna and Michael Sharkey each scored for GB on the first day of competition in the Paralympics but it was a tough introduction as each team met the world champions. GB Men lost 1-11 to Lithuania and the GB Women 1-7 to China.

The Men lost 1-7 to Turkey on day 2 with Michael scoring again.

Men’s Goalball ended with a 1-7 defeat against Brazil. One draw and 4 defeats but Michael Sharkey - who scored 3 goals - told me he had enjoyed every moment.

Michael defending the GB goal

Thegame had four penalties – 3 three for “high ball” and one for GB calling a 4th time-out when you are only allowed three with GB arguing they had only had three. That was will 9 seconds to go and there was so much booing! Cheers erupted when the penalty was saved.

Anna with the ball during a time-out

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