NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Para cyclist Lauren Parker has become world champion in a second sport, striking hand-cycling gold at the world championships after shining in the Para triathlon over recent years.

The 34-year-old was left exultant at striking gold in the H3 individual time trial, winning by over a minute from her rivals in the race against the clock in just her second major Para cycling event.

“It’s pretty special to now be a world champion in two sports – Para triathlon and Para cycling,” said Parker, who’s lifted the global title in the three-event discipline on three occasions.

“I was nervous because my first major Para cycling event was one in Belgium a few months ago, so I didn’t really know where I was at against the other girls because I’ve only raced them once.

“I had a little bit of nerves there but I believed in myself. I was just waiting for the other girls to cross the line afterwards to see what times they were doing – and when I found out that I’d finally done it, I was quite emotional.”

For Parker, who was the only athlete to cover the 17km course in under half-an-hour (29:59.44) and won by almost 1:12 from German silver medallist Annika Zeyen, it was more proof of her remarkable athletic talent and resilience that’s surfaced since a freak cycling accident left her paraplegic in 2017.

After both tyres on her time trial bike exploded and she crashed at 45kph, she suffered a broken shoulder, four broken ribs, a punctured lung, broken pelvis, broken back and suffered spinal cord damage which left her instantly paralysed from the waist down.

Now Parker, who won triathlon silver in the 2021 Paralympics, will be targeting gold in two different sports at next year’s Games in Paris.

 

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