Cycling silver as Lauren Parker smashes 44-year record

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Cycling silver as Lauren Parker smashes 44-year record

Remarkable para-cyclist Lauren Parker has become Australia’s first dual-sport Paralympic medallist in 44 years, claiming silver in the women’s H1-3 individual time trial to add to her triathlon gold.

After finishing first in the para triathlon on Monday, Parker was facing a lofty task to match a feat last achieved by Eric Russell, who won a gold (shot put) and two bronzes (discus and pentathlon) in 1980.

But Parker was undaunted by the history facing her in the Parisian satellite town of Clichy sous Bois and could well have finished first with a gold to her name.

The 35-year-old crossed the finish line on her hand cycle just 9.5secs behind ********* Katerina Brim.

“If only I had the extra nine seconds in me,” Parker quipped.

“I couldn’t have done anything more, I put it all out there on the race course.

“I can’t believe that I’ve been able to do that, it’s been a goal of mine to do both sports since Tokyo … I’m very happy with that.”

Parker’s silver came on a successful morning for Australia as cyclists clinched three medals.

Alana Forster (women’s C5) and Darren Hicks (men’s C2) claimed bronze.

Meg Lemon grabbed silver in the women’s C4 race with fellow *********** Emily Petricola, who claimed a velodrome gold medal earlier in the Games, having to settle for fourth.

Cyclists weaved their way through a 14.2km course in the nearby forest, looping around through the commune’s main strip and concluding with a sharp climb to finish at a municipal sports ground.

The unglamorous backdrop was in sharp contrast to the picturesque views of the Olympic time trial or the triathlon where Parker won gold, but it suited Lemon perfectly.

“My coaches just told me to finish at the end of the forest before the last downhill and uphill, and then they knew that I could climb,” Lemon said.

“Whatever I had left, I was just going to fly up the hill if I could.

“Em (Petricola) came up to me and told me I was second and I thought I was dreaming, it’s pretty remarkable.”

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Cycling #silver #Lauren #Parker #smashes #44year #record

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up