KEY POINTS
- Lauren Parker has won Paralympic gold in the H1-4 road race on Thursday in Paris.
- She is Australia’s first dual-sport gold medallist in 48 years, after also coming in first in the PTWC1 triathlon.
- Also on day eight, Vanessa Low and Timothy Hodge claimed gold in the T63 long jump and S9 200m individual medley.
Lauren Parker is continuing to rewrite history books, leaving a chasing pack in her wake on her way to claiming a Paralympic gold medal in the cycling road race.
Just a day after finishing with silver in the H1-3 individual time trial, the Australian returned to the Parisian satellite town of Clichy-sous-Bois on Thursday (local time) to win the H1-4 road race.
Parker’s victory follows her gold-medal win in the PTWC1 triathlon and makes her the first Australian to win multiple golds in different sports at the same Games since Eric Russell in 1976.
“I am so stoked. I really can’t believe what I’ve accomplished in these Games,” Parker said.
“Two golds and one silver — I couldn’t be more happy.
“The two golds are my favourite. In the triathlon, it has been a long journey to get there.
“And here today [in the road race] I’m so proud of my performance, they all mean the world to me.”
Lauren Parker of Australia wins the women’s H1-4 road race gold medal during the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games in Paris. Source: AAP / Greg Smith
Parker later revealed she was made to battle through an upset stomach caused by swallowing water from the River Seine.
The water quality of the Seine has been a big talking point throughout both the Olympics and Paralympics.
Parker’s triathlon — where athletes swam through a 750m stretch of the river — was delayed by 24 hours as a result of the water quality.
“Before the time trial and again today, I wasn’t feeling my best,” Parker said.
“I was quite nauseous and stuff like that.
“It was from the river swim in the triathlon, but I chose to push that aside, I had a job to do. I just got it done.”
Parker’s historical achievements were warmly received by Russell, who won three golds at the Toronto Games 48 years ago in discus, shotput and pentathlon.
“She is remarkable, there’s no doubt about that and I’ve loved watching her,” he told AAP.
“I think it’s a great thing that she’s done … records are made to be broken!”
Vanessa Low claims long jump gold — and sets her sights higher
Also on day seven in Paris, long-jumper Vanessa Low set her sights on cracking the six-metre mark after claiming a third-straight Paralympic gold.
Her closest competitor — silver medallist Martina Carboni — jumped just 5.06m, further solidifying 34-year-old Low’s dominance across the sport.
But despite winning three consecutive golds while representing both Germany and Australia, Low said she wants to keep driving for more.
“I love putting myself on the big stage, and I think I can jump six metres,” she said.
“I think this is my next big goal, six is possible, I want to break down barriers.
“When I first picked up the sport, we were at 4.5m, and now we are all pushing boundaries.”
‘Everything was worth it’: Swimmer Timothy Hodge wins individual gold
Swimmer Timothy Hodge finished first in the S9 200m individual medley.
Hodge lost his right foot as a child and spoke of once telling his parents he wouldn’t be good at anything.
After he played his part in Australia’s 34-point 100m relay gold medal win, he now has two golds from Paris.
“When I told that to my parents they were adamant, no, we’ll find something that I was good at.
“It was something they worked their whole lives to give me the best opportunities and find what I was good at.
“I am extremely proud to say that all the hard times and everything was worth it.”
