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British rider Sarah Storey further extended a striking Paralympic career Friday, clocking up a remarkable 19th gold medal across 32 years.
The 46-year-old rider won the C4-5 road race in Clichy-sous-Bois, Paris. She took victory in a sustained-effort sprint against France’s Heidi Gaugain.
It continued what is a stunning unbeaten record at the Games.
“I knew Heidi would want to take it to the line as she’s a fast sprinter,” Storey said. “She got a little gap — she’s 19 at the end of the day — but I just went for it.
“I knew my strength was holding high power for a long time. And when you’ve done an acceleration like she had, that’s hard for more than a kilometer. I knew that if I kept her within my sights — she was the carrot — and reeled her in, I’d still have a kick for the finish.”
Énorme Final de Heïdi Gaugain face à Sarah Storey pic.twitter.com/0SXWOaGHBI
— BRICE DE NICE (@CARPEdI56046538) September 6, 2024
Storey’s Paralympic career spans two sports and began at just 14 years of age. She competed in para-swimming in Barcelona 1992, taking two golds, three silvers and a bronze in those games.
In all she took five golds in the sport, but then switched to paracycling.
“It’s like putting together jigsaws for every Paralympic cycle and every piece is curated back home, driving round in a motorhome, going to different races,” she said of what is her second gold medal in Paris.
“So a massive thanks to local organizers who put on the races and put the jigsaw together.”
Remarkably, there is a chance she might further extend her gold medal count to 20 or perhaps even more.
Asked if she could be competing in Los Angeles in 2028, when she will be 50 years of age, she wouldn’t rule that out.
“Who knows? Never say never to anything,” she said. “I need to enjoy this first.”
Dame Sarah Storey has never lost in cycling at the Paralympics.
Just let that sink in.
#Paris2024 #Paralympics #IAmLimitless pic.twitter.com/5PlJoZf3Lh
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) September 6, 2024
