Paris 2024 Paralympics: Five things we learned on Day 7 - Correspondence course

paul myers

Wed, 4 Sept 2024, 7:53 pm·2-min read

One for the thinkers this. Men's race 28.3km. Women's race 14.2km. The 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris have been predicated on inclusiveness and sustainability. But do we want such divisiveness even now?

Wheels

Sarah Storey, who won the C5 time trial, branded as "appalling" the 14.2km distance of the women's course. "It's the shortest Paralympic time-trial we've ever done, and I think it's a real shame that we don't showcase para-sport as we should,” said the 46-year-old Briton who won her 18th title at the Paralympics. To the delight of the partisans, the local heroine Heidi Gaugain came second in the race for athletes with amputated or unilaterally affected upper limbs. “I hope this will be the last time the time trial is less than 20 kilometers," added Storey. "There was plenty of time in the day to do two laps like the men. To have fought so hard for parity in women's cycling only to not have it in para-cycling is a real disappointment."

Storied Storey

Sarah Storey was born with a malformation of the left hand and was only 14 when she competed in the swimming at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 where she won two gold medals in the 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle as well as three silvers and a bronze in the S10 category. Three more titles came in Atlanta in 1996, in the 100m backstroke. Fast forward to Paris and the veteran boasts another shiny medal from her ninth Paralympic Games after switching to the bicycle.

Out of Sight

Joining the dots

Far, far away