By Josh Squire
Just over a dozen athletes, including four former Commonwealth Games Team Members, will represent a strong history of Australian Para-cycling at the upcoming Paralympic Games.
Lauren Parker, a Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in Para-triathlon, joins dual Birmingham 2022 gold medallist Jessica Gallagher and a group of youth primed for competition that begins in under a month’s time.
Parker, who has already been selected in the triathlon team for the Paris Paralympics, becomes one of few athletes to contest two different sports at the same Games.
Meanwhile Gallagher will reunite with her pilot from her double success in Birmingham, Caitlin Ward, in a bid to add another medal to her bronze from Rio in the tandem time trial.
The team’s other pilot, Birmingham 2022 bronze medallist Luke Zaccaria, will team up with Kane Perris on the men’s side of the tandem events.
The Para-Cycling team also includes three reigning Paralympic champions in Amanda Reid, Emily Petricola and Darren Hicks, that will guide the new crop of athletes joining them.
AusCycling Para Technical Director Warren McDonald was glowing of the selected team and its chances on the world’s biggest stage.
“Australian Para-cycling has a long legacy and strong tradition of performing at the Paralympics.”
“This team is no different and this is their turn to honour those that have come before them and continue to be the best they can in representing Australia and wearing the green and gold.”
The Para-Cycling events get underway on the 29th of August, starting with the track events inside the Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines before moving out to the roads of Paris, concluding on the 7th of September.
With thanks to AusCycling and Paralympics Australia.
Australian Paralympic Cycling Team:
- Korey Boddington
- Meg Lemon
- Emily Petricola
- Amanda Reid
- Lauren Parker
- Alana Forster
- Jessica Gallagher
- Caitlin Ward (pilot)
- Darren Hicks
- Alistair Donohoe
- Gordon Allan
- Kane Perris
- Luke Zaccaria (pilot)
